Definition

A clear, oily liquid that dissolves in water and has two aldehyde groups. It is used for tanning leather and preserving biological tissues.

Example

Glutaraldehyde is often used in laboratories to fix biological samples for examination.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of glutaraldehyde?

Yeah, I think it's used in some laboratories, right?

Exactly! It’s also used for tanning leather, surprisingly.

That's interesting! I had no idea it had so many applications.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Glutaraldehyde is formed from "glutaric" (from Latin *glutaris*, meaning a type of dicarboxylic acid) and "aldehyde" (from Arabic *al-dahīda*, meaning the aldehyde group). The word refers to a chemical compound derived from glutaric acid that contains an aldehyde functional group.

Memory Tip

Think of 'glutaric' as relating to a specific acid and 'aldehyde' as a type of chemical group, which helps you remember that glutaraldehyde is a compound related to glutaric acid with an aldehyde functional group.

Visually Confused Words