Ethylene glycol

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Ethylene Glycol

Ethylene glycol (pronounced: /ˈɛθɪliːn ˈɡlaɪkɒl/) is a colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting, viscous liquid that is widely used as an antifreeze in cooling and heating systems.

Etymology

The term "ethylene glycol" is derived from the chemical compounds ethylene (ethene) and glycol. Ethylene is a hydrocarbon with the formula C2H4, while glycol is a type of alcohol that contains two hydroxyl (OH) groups.

Uses

Ethylene glycol is primarily used in antifreeze formulations (50%) for its properties of freezing point depression and boiling point elevation. It is also used in the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resins, in the production of fiberglass and in the manufacture of capacitors, inks, and dyes.

Health Effects

Ethylene glycol is toxic, and ingestion can result in death. It can also be harmful by inhalation, and it can cause serious eye irritation, and may cause skin irritation. Chronic exposure at high levels can result in kidney damage and failure (see Ethylene glycol poisoning).

Related Terms

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski