While many people know that glycerin is an ingredient found in soap, the actual identification and the full range of the substance's uses are less known. Glycerin is actually a substance that appears in many forms and in many uses in the modern world. You can find it in industrial processes, food production, pharmaceuticals and even explosives. An analysis of glycerin shows its full importance.
Identification
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| de: Struktur von Glycerin; en: Structure of glycerol (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Glycerin is a liquid substance in
its natural state, which can freeze into a paste-like solid at slightly lowered
temperatures. The pure form of glycerin is known as glycerol, a natural
alcohol, while the impure form used in manufacturing holds the official name of
glycerin. Glycerin is a very viscous liquid, has a sweet taste and is
colorless. The substance dissolves easily in water and alcohol and also
functions as an excellent solvent for many liquids. Chemically, glycerin is an
organic molecule in which five hydrogen ions and three hydroxide ions attach to
three carbon ions. The chemical formula is C3H8O3.
History
Although used in soap-making for
centuries, there was no way to isolate glycerin during the manufacturing
process until 1889. Manufacturers then found that adding salt to the soap
mixture at the end of the process separates the glycerin from the soap. You can
then distill the glycerin and filter it with charcoal.
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| English: oligomer Glycerol Deutsch: oligomeres Glycerin (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Function
The most common use of glycerin is
in soap, where the substance contributes to the consistency and appearance of
the soap. Because glycerin is a humectant, it can attract moisture to the skin
and is an excellent moisturizer as a result. Glycerin does this by hygroscopic
qualities that absorb water from the surrounding environment. As a result,
glycerin in soap needs to be diluted, as pure glycerin can cause irritation to
the skin if it is allowed to absorb the skin's moisture.
Benefits
There are many uses of glycerin,
although its position as a component in soap is the most common. Glycerin is
also necessary to make nitroglycerin, the basis for dynamite. You can also use
glycerin to conserve preserved fruit, to lower the freezing point for
mechanical systems, for lubrication, as a base for skin lotion, to make
printing ink, to preserve biological samples and as an ingredient in
candy-making.
Considerations
Glycerin can also appear as a major
ingredient in pharmacological drugs, where its hygroscopic properties can
reduce collected water. Doctors may prescribe an oral drug containing glycerin
to treat glaucoma or to reduce ocular fluids following eye surgery.
Glycerin-based drugs also can treat constipation and can evacuate the rectum
and bowel before medical examination.
