What compound is formed from the oxidation of acetaldehyde?

The compound formed from the oxidation of acetaldehyde is acetic acid. During the oxidation process, acetaldehyde (ethanal) undergoes a chemical transformation in which it loses electrons and is converted into acetic acid (ethanoic acid). This reaction typically involves the addition of oxygen or the removal of hydrogen.

Acetaldehyde has the molecular formula C2H4O, and when oxidized, it becomes acetic acid, which has the molecular formula C2H4O2. The oxidation typically occurs in the presence of certain catalysts or under specific conditions, such as in biological systems where enzymes like aldehyde dehydrogenase facilitate this conversion. This transformation is significant in both industrial processes and metabolic pathways in living organisms, particularly during the breakdown of ethanol in the liver.

Formic acid, lactic acid, and fumaric acid are not products of acetaldehyde oxidation. Formic acid is more closely associated with the oxidation of methanol, while lactic acid is produced during anaerobic respiration. Fumaric acid is connected to the citric acid cycle and is derived from other substrates but not directly from acetaldehyde. Thus, the correct association of acetaldehyde oxidation leading to acetic acid is fundamental in both