Glycolaldehyde

Glycolaldehyde is the organic compound with the formula HOCH2-CHO. It is the smallest possible molecule that contains both an aldehyde group and a hydroxyl group. It is a highly reactive molecule that occurs both in the biosphere and in the interstellar medium. It is normally supplied as a white solid. Although it conforms to the general formula for carbohydrates, Cn(H2O)n, it is not generally considered to be a saccharide.LactaldehydeGlycolaldehyde exists as depicted above as a gas. As a solid and molten liquid, it exists as a dimer. In aqueous solution, it exists as a mixture of at least four species, which rapidly interconvert.Glycolaldehyde is the second most abundant compound formed when preparing pyrolysis oil (up to 10% by weight).The different conditions studied indicate how problematic it could be to study chemical systems that are light-years away. The conditions for the formation of glycolaldehyde are still unclear. At this time, the most consistent formation reactions seems to be on the surface of ice in cosmic dust.