Which of the following is an example of a dialdehyde compound?

Formaldehyde is an example of a dialdehyde compound because it contains two aldehyde functional groups, making it a simple form of dialdehyde. The presence of two -CHO groups allows formaldehyde to participate in various chemical reactions characteristic of aldehydes, such as those involved in the preservation of biological specimens and in the production of various resins and plastics.

In contrast, while aldehyde and acetaldehyde are related to the aldehyde family, they do not fit the specific definition of a dialdehyde. Aldehyde is a broader term that encompasses all aldehyde compounds without specifying the number of functional groups. Acetaldehyde, although it is similarly classified as an aldehyde, has only one aldehyde group and therefore does not qualify as a dialdehyde. Sucrose, on the other hand, is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose and does not contain any aldehyde functional groups. Hence, it does not fit the criteria for being classified as a dialdehyde.