What is "glyceraldehyde"

n. (context organic compound carbohydrate English) The aldotriose ''2,3-dihydroxypropanal'' formed by oxidation of glycerol

n. a sweet crystalline aldehyde formed by the breakdown of sugars [syn: glyceric aldehyde]

Glyceraldehyde (glyceral) is a triose monosaccharide with chemical formula C H O. It is the simplest of all common aldoses. It is a sweet, colorless, crystalline solid that is an intermediate compound in carbohydrate metabolism. The word comes from combining glycerol and aldehyde, as glyceraldehyde is glycerol with one hydroxymethyl group oxidized to an aldehyde.