What is "triethylaluminium"

n. (context organic compound English) A volatile organometallic compound used in various chemical processes and as an ignitor for jet engine and rocket engines.

Triethylaluminium (TEAL) is an organoaluminium compound. Despite its name, the formula for this compound is Al(CH), shortened to AlEt (Et = ethyl). This volatile, colorless liquid is highly pyrophoric, igniting immediately upon exposure to air. It is normally stored in stainless steel containers either as a pure liquid or as a solution in hydrocarbon solvents such as hexane, heptane, or toluene. TEAL is mainly used as a co-catalyst in the industrial production of polyethylene and for the production of medium chain alcohols.