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Glycerol

Chemical compound widely used in food and pharmaceuticals / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Quick facts: Names, Identifiers, Properties, Pharmacology,...
Glycerol
Glycerol
Ball-and-stick model of glycerol
Ball-and-stick model of glycerol
Space-filling model of glycerol
Space-filling model of glycerol
Sample of glycerine
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Propane-1,2,3-triol[1]
Other names
Glycerin
Glycerine
1,2,3-Trioxypropane
1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane
1,2,3-Propanetriol
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.000.263 Edit this at Wikidata
E number E422 (thickeners, ...)
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C3H8O3/c4-1-3(6)2-5/h3-6H,1-2H2 checkY
    Key: PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C3H8O3/c4-1-3(6)2-5/h3-6H,1-2H2
    Key: PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYAF
  • OCC(O)CO
Properties
C3H8O3
Molar mass 92.094 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless hygroscopic liquid
Odor Odorless
Density 1.261 g/cm3
Melting point 17.8 °C (64.0 °F; 290.9 K)
Boiling point 290 °C (554 °F; 563 K)[2]
miscible[3]
log P −2.32[4]
Vapor pressure 0.003 mmHg (0.40 Pa) at 50 °C[3]
−57.06×10−6 cm3/mol
1.4746
Viscosity 1.412 Pa·s (20 °C)[5]
Pharmacology
A06AG04 (WHO) A06AX01 (WHO), QA16QA03 (WHO)
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
1
1
0
Flash point 160 °C (320 °F; 433 K) (closed cup)
176 °C (349 °F; 449 K) (open cup)
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
TWA 15 mg/m3 (total)
TWA 5 mg/m3 (resp)[3]
REL (Recommended)
None established[3]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
N.D.[3]
Safety data sheet (SDS) JT Baker
Supplementary data page
Glycerol (data page)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Glycerol (/ˈɡlɪsərɒl/),[6] also called glycerine in British English and glycerin in American English, is a simple triol compound. It is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is sweet-tasting and non-toxic. The glycerol backbone is found in lipids known as glycerides. Because it has antimicrobial and antiviral properties, it is widely used in wound and burn treatments approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Conversely, it is also used as a bacterial culture medium.[7] Its presence in blood can be used as an effective marker to measure liver disease. It is also widely used as a sweetener in the food industry and as a humectant in pharmaceutical formulations. Because of its three hydroxyl groups, glycerol is miscible with water and is hygroscopic in nature.[8]