Chemicals are mixed with our daily life. From agriculture to face products, everything is chemicals now. It is essential to know about what we are using day to day. Acetone and benzaldehyde are two different chemical forms found in the human body.
Key Takeaways
- Acetone is a colorless, volatile, and flammable liquid used as a solvent, while benzaldehyde is an aromatic aldehyde with a sweet, almond-like odor.
- Acetone has a simple structure (CH3COCH3) and is the smallest ketone, whereas benzaldehyde (C6H5CHO) contains a benzene ring.
- Acetone is commonly used in nail polish removers and paint thinners, while benzaldehyde is used as a flavoring agent and in synthesizing other chemicals.
Acetone vs Benzaldehyde
Acetone is a colorless, flammable liquid that is used as a solvent. It has a sweet odor and it evaporates quickly when exposed to air. Benzaldehyde is a clear, colorless to yellowish liquid with a bitter almond odor. It is an organic compound that is used as a flavoring agent in the food industry.
Acetone is a breakdown product of a chemical compound. It is a colourless volatile liquid. Acetone is the simplest ketone. “C3H6O” is the chemical formula of acetone. Compared to water, acetone is less dense.
The density of acetone in water is around 0.8. The vapours in acetone are heavier than air, and it is around 2.0. Since it is less dense than water, it can easily dissolve in the water. Both the polar and non-polar substances are get dissolved.
Benzaldehyde is an oily yellow substance. It has an almond odour. Benzaldehyde is made of a single formyl group that gives aromatic aldehyde. Cherries, and peaches have the chemical form of benzaldehyde.
It is found in human urine. C6H5CHO is the chemical formula of benzaldehyde. It is a hazardous chemical if you inhale or swallow it.
Sometimes it may cause eye irritation, and eye-related problems may occur for people who work with benzaldehyde.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Acetone | Benzaldehyde |
|---|---|---|
| Stability | Acetone is a stable liquid in recommended storage space. | Benzaldehyde is a reactive liquid. |
| Autoignition | Acetone auto-ignited at 465 degrees Celsius. | Benzaldehyde auto-ignited at 192 degrees Celsius. |
| Solubility in water | Acetone is soluble in water | Benzaldehyde is not soluble in water |
| Boiling point | The boiling point of acetone is 56 degrees Celsius. | The boiling point of benzaldehyde is 178.7 degrees Celsius. |
| Density in water | The density of acetone in water is 0.8 | The density of benzaldehyde in water is 1.05 |
| Chemical formula | C3H6O | C6H5CHO |
What is Acetone?
Acetone is a chemical form with one important peculiarity of accumulating in the human body. Accumulating increases the concentration of the human body. If the accumulation crosses the limit, then chronic poisoning also occurs.
When metabolism fat is broken, acetone is produced in the human body. Acetones occur in volcanic gases, plants, animals, and forest fires. Acetone is a simple ketone chemical form.
Acetone is also found in human urine and blood. The carbohydrate in the body gets depleted when fasting or on a diet. This results in the production of acetone in the stomach and causes acetone breath.
Diabetes patients have more amount of acetone in their urine and blood. The increase in acetone in the body cause ketoacidosis settlement, which is a symptom of diabetes. It easily accumulates in the body resulting in an increase in concentration.
Acetone is soluble in water easily and acts as a solvent. Acetone is also s drying agent in protein precipitation. Sometimes it is a medical agent in cosmetics.
Acetone is added to food for addicts and for a colouring agent. It is mainly used in acne treatment for peeling the skin. It is also a primary part of cleaning agents. Acetone is less dense in water and denser in air.
The acetone vapours are more hazardous. Acetone has narcotic effects that affect the nervous system.
What is Benzaldehyde?
Benzaldehyde is a reactive liquid. It is a colourless liquid and then changes to yellow colour. The boiling point of benzaldehyde is 178.7°C. It is insoluble in water and soluble in liquid ammonia. Benzaldehyde causes severe irritation with prolonged contact.
Benzaldehyde is also used in water treatment and fuel additives. It is a major compound in beer repellent. It is called a chemical flavour.
In 1803, benzaldehyde was first extracted by a French pharmacist. Nature benzaldehyde is the poisonous material in almonds. Friedrich Wohler and Justus von Liebig first synthesized benzaldehyde in 1832.
Near honeycombs, benzaldehyde solutions are found. Cigarette pods contain benzaldehyde as a flavour. Since it is a reactive liquid, the concentration is comparatively low. Benzaldehyde is also added in cool mint flavours.
Some flavoured foods contain benzaldehyde. Cosmetic and Pharmaceuticals products also contain benzaldehyde. Benzaldehyde is the chief agent in industrial things of organic compounds. Malachite green dye and dimethylaniline contain benzaldehyde.
In acridine dyes, it is the precursor. Sometimes benzaldehyde is converted into derivatives for aldol condensations. By adding hydrochloric acid with benzaldehyde, mandelic acid is prepared.
Main Differences Between Acetone and Benzaldehyde
- Acetone is a stable liquid in recommended storage space, and benzaldehyde is a reactive liquid.
- Acetone is auto-ignited at 465 degrees Celsius, and benzaldehyde is auto-ignited at 192 degrees Celsius.
- Acetone is soluble in water, and benzaldehyde is not soluble in water.
- The boiling point of acetone is 56 degrees Celsius, and the boiling point of benzaldehyde is 178.7 degrees Celsius.
- The density of acetone in water is 0.8, and the density of benzaldehyde in water is 1.05.
- https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ep.670130114
- https://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/48/19/5387.short
Last Updated : 11 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
The article is well-structured and informative, but I think that the tone used to describe the health risks of Acetone and Benzaldehyde is rather alarmist.
While the information was structured well, I feel the amount of technical jargon made it hard to digest. Maybe a little simpler terms could make this more accessible for everyone.
The health warnings and clearly outlined differences between Acetone and Benzaldehyde are crucial information. Everyone should be educated about this.
The information is presented in such a way that it feels like reading an in-depth research paper or a scientific journal. Maybe a little too academic for general readers.
This article provides valuable information! However, the complex scientific terms might be challenging for readers without a scientific background.
The article provides a wide variety of information about Acetone and Benzaldehyde. It should be read by everyone to have an understanding of its uses and dangers. The comments are well-structured and informative.
The article has very useful information for those who want to understand more about chemicals in use every day.
I also love the information provided, it is well detail and organized.
This article is really interesting, I never knew about the different uses and dangers of Acetone and Benzaldehyde. It’s a great eye-opener!
The comparison table between Acetone and Benzaldehyde is incredibly helpful. The detailed information makes it even more useful.