2-Mercaptoethanol

  • 2- mercaptoethanol (IUPAC)
  • 2-mercaptoethanol
  • β -mercaptoethanol
  • Monothioethyleneglycol
  • Hydroxyethyl mercaptan
  • Thioglycol

Colorless, unpleasant smelling liquid

Liquid

1.1143 g · cm -3

-100 ° C

157 ° C.

3.6 hPa ( 20 ° C)

9.72 (25 ° C)

Readily soluble in water

1.4985 (20 ° C)

Risk

  • 244 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)
  • 150 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, Rabbit, transdermal)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Mercaptoethanol is a clear, colorless liquid with a very unpleasant, the hydrogen sulfide -like odor. The compound contains two functional groups, namely hydroxyl (-OH) and mercapto (-SH).

Properties

The melting point of mercaptoethanol is -100 ° C and the boiling point at 157 ° C. The density is 1.1143 g · cm -3. The dynamic viscosity is 3.4 mPa · s at 20 ° C. Mercaptoethanol is water soluble and very soluble in many organic solvents.

Under the influence of water ( moisture) or acid mercaptoethanol cleaves highly toxic hydrogen sulfide. Mercaptoethanol was classified as extremely hazardous and should not be allowed into waters.

Toxicity

The vapors of these liquids irritate respiratory tract, eyes and skin very strong. Contact with liquid causes severe irritation of skin and eyes. Mercaptoethanol is also absorbed through the skin ( percutaneous) in large quantities ( = " contact poison "). As already mentioned in properties mercaptoethanol splits off on contact with water or acid hydrogen sulfide, which is also highly toxic.

Use

Mercaptoethanol is used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, agrochemical, dyestuff, textile and plastics industries. It is also suitable for the production of rubber materials and plasticizers. The chemical is also used for the stabilization of various enzymes. In peptide chemistry, of the material is also often used.

In biochemistry β - mercaptoethanol in the sample buffer and Western blot stripping buffer usually (5% volume ratio ) used to reduce disulfide bonds in proteins to free thiols. Thus, β -mercaptoethanol, for example, part of SDS -PAGE sample buffers are used for denaturation of proteins and reduction. Furthermore, it is added in low concentrations of 100 nmol / l various cell culture media in order to promote growth and differentiation.

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