Ethylene glycol
Description
A clear, colorless, syrupy liquid that is the simplest glycol in its homologous series. While ethylene glycol has a sweet taste, it is extremely poisonous and should not be ingested. Ethylene glycol lowers the freezing point of water and is widely used in antifreeze formulations. Additionally, ethylene glycol is hygroscopic and is used as a combined humectant, solvent, and plasticizer in inks, paints, plastics, textiles, and leathers. It is also used as a component to synthesize explosives, alkyd resins, plasticizers, synthetic waxes, and synthetic fibers (Dacron, Terylene).
Synonyms and Related Terms
1,2-ethanediol; ethylene alcohol; glycol
Other Properties
Soluble in water, ethanol, acetone, acetic acid, ketones and aldehydes. Insoluble in aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons.
| Composition | HOCH2CH2OH |
|---|---|
| CAS | 107-21-1 |
| Melting Point | -13.5 |
| Density | 1.1155 |
| Molecular Weight | mol. wt. = 62.1 |
| Refractive Index | 1.429 |
| Boiling Point | 197.2 |
Hazards and Safety
Toxic by ingestion and inhalation causing nervous system stimulation followed by coma and death. Lethal dose is about 100 ml.
Combustible. Flash point = 111 C (232 F)
LINK: International Chemical Safety Card
Comparisons
Authority
- R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, R. J. Gettens, G.L. Stout, Painting Materials, A Short Encyclopaedia, Dover Publications, New York, 1966
- Richard S. Lewis, Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993
- Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Dictionary of Fiber & Textile Technology (older version called Man-made Fiber and Textile Dictionary, 1965), Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Charlotte NC, 1990
- Michael McCann, Michael McCann, Artist Beware, Watson-Guptill Publications, New York City, 1979
- Random House, Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
- The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 3844
- The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
- CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: ref. index =1.429