Glycerol

Syrupy liquid, colorless and odorless with a sweet taste of alcohol and insoluble in ether, benzene and chloroform. Formula C3H8O3 (1,2,3-propanetriol) and relative density of 1.26. It has a boiling point of 290 °C and a melting point of 18 °C. The liquid glycerin is resistant to freezing but can crystallize at low temperature. It is soluble in water in any proportion, and dissolves in alcohol but insoluble in ether and many other organic solvents.

The most frequent use of glycerin is the development of alkyd resins. Other applications include the manufacture of medicines and toiletries, like toothpaste, as a plasticizer for the cellophane and a wetting agent of the snuff products. Because other cheaper products, only 5% of the industrial production of glycerine is used in the manufacture of explosives from it. Because of its affinity with water and its viscosity, glycerin is used to ink the stamp pads. It is also used to lubricate the machinery that pumps petroleum products due to its resistance to dissolve in the liquid oil. Because of its high viscosity and lack of toxicity, glycerin is an excellent lubricant for food processing machines.

Fats and oils are esters of simple fatty acids and glycerin. Once obtained as a byproduct in the manufacture of soap after treating fats and oils with alkali, crude glycerin is purified by distillation.

Basic properties:
Properties Value
chemical formula C3H8O3
molecular weight 92.0938 g/mol
phase liquid (at STP)
melting point 20 °C
boiling point 182 °C (measured at 2666 Pa)
density 1.25 g/cm3
solubility miscible in water

Liquid properties:
Properties Value
density 1.25 g/cm3
vapor pressure 0.9998 mmHg
dynamic viscosity 0.934 Pa s (at 25 °C)
surface tension 0.0648 N/m
sound speed 6854 km/h (at 25 °C (degrees Celsius))
refractive index 1.474
UV cutoff wavelength 207 nm