Definition

A clear, colorless liquid that can catch fire easily, used for dissolving substances and making products like perfumes and adhesives.

Example

Methylal is often used in the production of various adhesives and coatings.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of methylal?

No, I haven't. What is it used for?

It's actually a solvent that's used in making perfumes and adhesives.

That sounds interesting! I didn't know there were so many uses for it.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Methylal is formed from "methyl" (from Greek "methylen", meaning a chemical group derived from methane) and "-al" (a suffix used in organic chemistry to denote an aldehyde). The word refers to a chemical compound that is an aldehyde derived from methyl.

Memory Tip

Think of 'methyl' as a chemical group related to methane, and '-al' indicating it's an aldehyde. This helps you remember that methylal is a type of aldehyde related to methyl.

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