Chemical uses, chemistry information and industry news
Antifreeze is an additive used to decrease the freezing point – and increase the boiling point – of any water-based liquid.Antifreeze is made using any one of four main agents mixed with water: methanol, glycerol, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, and each of these agents can be put to different use. You probably know it best for its use in...
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a polyether compound that has a variety of uses and appearances depending on its molecular weight.It's made by polymerising ethylene glycol, the main ingredient in antifreeze solutions, and has a strong presence in the medical industry. How is PEG Made? Like most polyethers, polyethylene glycol is made by polymerising (combining with) monomers. It does this by forming ether...
In a separate post, we took a look at the structure and production of glycerin, and how this everyday substance is also found in dynamite. In this post, we’re talking about its many uses and how different industries utilise the properties of this multi-dimensional liquid.Glycerin is a sugar-alcohol with the chemical formula C3H8O3. While this is remarkably similar to the...
It’s in our food, our moisturisers, our cars, and even our rockets. We’re talking about glycerin, of course, and today we’re looking into its structure, how it’s made and even its role in dynamite.Glycerin was discovered by Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1783. Even then, it was immediately known for its characterising sweet taste. Scheele even referred to it as the...
When buying chemical products online, you'll notice that the concentrations are either marked as v/v, w/w or w/v. These are common expressions, so what do they mean exactly? % V/V Volume concentration of a solution is expressed as % v/v, which stands for volume per volume. This is used when both chemicals in a solution are liquid.For example, when 50ml of...
In a previous post, we looked at the colourless chemical compound known as isopropyl alcohol (IPA). With the formula C3H8O, it is a secondary alcohol that can be recognised by its strong odour.IPA is a volatile, flammable, and multipurpose product that has a range of uses in a variety of different industries. It's most commonly used for its antibacterial properties,...
Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is most popularly known as rubbing alcohol, a first aid kit must-have. It is a colourless, flammable chemical compound and can be easily identified by its strong odour.Isopropyl alcohol (C3H80) was the first commercial synthetic alcohol. First produced in 1920, a group of chemists at the Standard Oil Company in New Jersey discovered it whilst studying by-products...
Denatured alcohol, also known as methylated spirits, is ethanol that contains additives in order to deter human consumption. The chemicals added, which are referred to as denaturants, discourage people from drinking the alcohol by making it bad tasting, foul smelling, and nauseating.During denaturing, the property in alcohol that makes it drinkable is removed. When alcohol has been denatured, its alcohol...
Dichloromethane (DCM) is a non-flammable, volatile chemical that is widely used as an organic solvent. Also knows as methylene chloride, it has many industrial applications because of its high volatility and ability to dissolve compounds. But what is it used for exactly? Aerosol Products Dichloromethane is commonly used in aerosol products like spray paint. This is because it acts as a:Strong Solvent Flammability...
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