Glycerin is a triatomic alcohol.It is used in medicine, food industry, cosmetology, and even for the preparation of dynamites. What are the properties of glycerin? Can I get it at home?
What is glycerin?
Glycerin is an organic substance and is a triatomic alcohol. Its chemical form is C3X8ABOUT3 or HOCH2-CH (OH) -CH2OH. The meaning of the word glycerin is directly related to its properties. The name comes from the ancient Greek word “glycos,” or “sweet,” because of the sweet taste of the substance.
Glycerin is a clear liquid, quiteviscous and completely odorless. It is non-toxic and non-toxic, and therefore does not pose any danger from direct contact with the skin. In the natural environment, glycerin is found in animal fats, and is also found in most oils of plant origin. Its insignificant part is in the blood of animals.
Glycerin was first discovered in 1783, whenchemist Karl Scheele was engaged in the saponification of fats with lead oxide. During the heating of the oxide with olive oil, a soap solution began to form. After evaporation, a viscous, sweetish syrup was formed.
Properties
The substance has a high hygroscopicity,that is, the ability to absorb moisture and retain it. Its boiling point is 290 degrees Celsius. When boiling glycerin partially decomposed. At a temperature of 362 degrees can spontaneously ignite. Under normal conditions, the substance does not have volatile properties, but evaporates when heated. Burning is accompanied by the release of water and carbon dioxide.
Glycerin is insoluble in fats, hydrocarbons andarenas, but perfectly soluble in water and alcohols. When added to water, the solution is reduced or reduced, and the temperature rises. In such a mixture, the freezing point of water decreases.
When interacting with mineral and carboxylicacids glycerin forms esters. In essence, these are fats that are involved in the process of metabolism and perform important biological functions in the body of animals. One of them are, for example, phospholipids.
Trinitroglycerin is also an ester.The substance is formed from a combination of glycerol with nitrous acid. It is an oily, toxic and highly explosive liquid that is sensitive to the slightest manipulation.
Glycerin and copper hydroxide form a solutiondark blue with a complete dissolution of the precipitate, which indicates the acidic properties of alcohol. Glycerin is able to dissolve aromatic alcohols, alkalis, sugars, salts and other organic and inorganic compounds.
Methods of obtaining
The first ever method of producing glycerin- it is a saponification. He appeared immediately after the discovery of the substance by the chemist Scheel. The result of this process is a soap solution with glycerin. After that, they must be separated from each other, which is done with sodium chloride. Then glycerin needs to be thickened and purified using distillation or activated carbon.
Другой способ включает в себя добавление воды в butter. At a certain pressure, they are heated and stirred for ten hours, and then cooled. After cooling, the substances are clearly divided into several layers: in the lower layer - glycerin with water, in the upper layer - acids.
The substance is also obtained by hydrolysis of carbohydrates, for example, starch, cane sugar. But then not pure liquid is formed, but a mixture with different glycols.
All these methods help to get, socalled, food glycerin. It is harmless to humans and is added to make certain foods. In contrast, there is a technical glycerin. This substance is obtained not from plant and animal raw materials, but from propylene, a combustible gas with a strong narcotic effect.
Application
Both food and technical glycerin find wideapplication in our life. It is often used for the manufacture of synthetic resins. Nitroglycerin is used to produce dynamites and other explosives. In medicine, the same substance is great for drugs that dilate blood vessels.
In industry it is used to makepaper, detergents. In the production of electrical and radio engineering during soldering, it serves as a flux. Glycerin is used to make plastics, building varnishes and paints.
In the food industry, it is registered asadditive E422. This emulsifier, which is needed to increase the viscosity, as well as to create various mixtures. The substance is a part of numerous medical preparations, used for cartridges of electronic cigarettes, for the manufacture of candles. In biology, glycerin is necessary for the preservation of tissues, organs, organisms and anatomical preparations.
Glycerin in cosmetics
Due to the fact that glycerin retains moisture, it is often used in various cosmetic products for skin and hair care. It is present in soap, in nourishing and moisturizing creams.
The substance penetrates the epidermis, delayingcages water. Thus, it does not allow the skin to become too dry and lifeless. But he has his drawbacks. The fact is that in an atmosphere with very dry air (less than 65% humidity), glycerin begins to absorb moisture from the skin, further draining it.
Cosmetologists usually do not recommend usinghis winter. In addition, proportions are important. In small amounts, the presence of glycerin in the cream improves the properties of the skin. Together with other products it is used in homemade recipes for masks and lotions. For example, in combination with orange and water for toning and cleansing the skin, it is used for hair with eggs, honey, castor oil and other ingredients.
How to make glycerin?
It is not necessary to buy glycerin.It can be cooked at home. You will need animal fat (1.9 kg), alkali (342 mg), water (995 mg), and salt. Fat can be taken from the meat of any animal, clearing it from all the veins and vessels. And then we act like this:
- melt pieces of fat on low heat;
- leave it to cool to 35 degrees;
- in a separate pot we prepare alkali, pouring it into the water;
- alkali temperature should also reach 35 degrees, then gently gently pour it into the pan with fat;
- stir the ingredients quickly, while adding salt;
- continue to “salt” and stir until the mixture begins to divide into a clear liquid below and a cloudy solution above;
- we catch the entire top layer - it is soap, the bottom layer is glycerin;
- we filter glycerin through a sieve or a gauze to remove small particles of soap.
Заниматься приготовлением глицерина alone should be very neat. When diluted with water, the alkali is heated above 90 degrees. You need to work in gloves, glasses (from the fumes), and dilute the alkali in a special container.
