Which aldehyde is listed for the smell of cut grass?

Which aldehyde is listed for the smell of cut grass?

• A. Isovaleraldehyde
• B. Cuminaldehyde
• C. Hexanal
• D. Benzaldehyde

Answer: (A)

When plant tissue is damaged, it releases volatile aldehydes that create the familiar grassy scent. The main contributor is hexanal, a six-carbon aldehyde with a green, grassy odor that’s characteristic of freshly cut grass. The other compounds listed have different odors—isovaleraldehyde has a malty notes, cuminaldehyde smells cumin-like, and benzaldehyde smells almond-like—so they don’t define the cut-grass aroma. Therefore, hexanal is the aldehyde associated with the smell of cut grass.

When plant tissue is damaged, it releases volatile aldehydes that create the familiar grassy scent. The main contributor is hexanal, a six-carbon aldehyde with a green, grassy odor that’s characteristic of freshly cut grass. The other compounds listed have different odors—isovaleraldehyde has a malty notes, cuminaldehyde smells cumin-like, and benzaldehyde smells almond-like—so they don’t define the cut-grass aroma. Therefore, hexanal is the aldehyde associated with the smell of cut grass.