ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Acylal

Okay kiddo, have you ever heard of candy? You know how when you have a lollipop and the outside is hard but the inside is soft? Well, molecules can be like candy too!

One type of molecule that scientists study is called an acylal. It's made up of parts that are kind of like the outside and inside of a lollipop.

The acylal molecule has a hard outer part called an "acyl" group. This part is like the hard candy shell on a lollipop. It helps protect the inside of the molecule from being damaged by other things.

But inside the acylal molecule, there is a softer part called an "alcohol" group. This part is like the sweet, soft center of a lollipop that you can enjoy.

Scientists like studying acylal molecules because they can help us make other useful things like medicines, pesticides, and plastics. They are cool because they can do some important chemical reactions that other molecules can't.

So there you have it kiddo, acylal molecules are like candy molecules with a soft center and a hard candy shell. They are important for making helpful things that we use every day.