What is "glycolaldehyde"

n. (context organic compound English) The hydroxyaldehyde HO-CH₂-CHO related to ethylene glycol; the only biose

Glycolaldehyde is the organic compound with the formula HOCH-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.