Final answer:
An acetal is the compound formed from an alcohol and an aldehyde containing a carbon with a hydrogen and two —OR groups and resembles diethers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The compound that results from a reaction between an alcohol and an aldehyde and contains a carbon atom with a hydrogen and two —OR groups attached, resembling diethers, is known as an acetal. When alcohol reacts with an aldehyde and the alcohol is in excess, a second molecule of the alcohol can react with the resulting hemiacetal to form an acetal. An acetal is characterized by having two —OR groups attached to the same carbon atom, and acetals can be stable and isolable. The formation of an acetal is a two-step process: first, the alcohol reacts with the aldehyde to form a hemiacetal, and then in the presence of excess alcohol, the hemiacetal can be further converted into an acetal.