Overview

Ethylene glycol (ETH-uh-leen GLYE-kol) is clear, colorless, syrupy liquid with a sweet taste. One should not attempt to confirm the compound's taste, however, as it is toxic. In recent years, more than 4 billion kilograms (9 billion pounds) of ethylene glycol has been produced in the United States annually. The compound is used primarily as an antifreeze and in the manufacture of a number of important chemical compounds, including polyester fibers, films, bottles, resins, and other materials.

Key Facts

Other Names:

Ethylene alcohol; monoethylene glycol

Formula:

CH₂OHCH₂OH

Elements:

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

Compound Type:

Dihydric alcohol (organic)

State:

Liquid

Molecular Weight:

62.07 g/mol

Melting Point:

−12.69°C (9.16°F)

Boiling Point:

197.3°C (387.1°F)

Solubility:

Miscible with water, alcohol, acetone, and ether

Ethylene glycol was first prepared in 1859 by the French chemist Charles Adolphe Wurtz (1817–1884). Wurtz's discovery did not find an application, however, until the early twentieth century, when...