Products Description
Glycolic acid, also known as hydroxyacetic acid, is the smallest alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA). It appears as a colorless, odorless crystalline solid. It is highly soluble in water, alcohol and other polar solvents. It has mild acidity and strong hygroscopic properties.
It is widely used in personal care & cosmetics industry as exfoliating agent, humectant and pH adjuster. In industrial fields, it serves as cleaning agent for metal surface treatment, boiler descaling, textile dyeing auxiliary, and raw material for synthesis of agrochemicals, biodegradable polymers and other organic intermediates.
Chemical Properties
Item | Value |
|---|---|
Melting point | 75–80 °C (lit.) |
Boiling point | Decomposes above 100°C |
density | 1.49 g/cm³ at 25 °C |
vapor pressure | 0.0 mmHg at 25°C |
refractive index | n20/D 1.424 |
storage temp | 2–30°C, sealed |
solubility | Soluble in water, methanol, acetone |
pka | 3.83 (25°C) |
form | Crystalline solid / 70% aqueous solution |
color | Colorless / White to off-white crystals |
PH | ~2.0 (50 g/L, 20°C) |
Odor | Odorless |
Odor Type | None |
Water Solubility | Highly soluble |
Sensitive | Hygroscopic |
Merck | 14,4482 |
BRN | 1738406 |
Stability | Stable. Incompatible with strong bases and oxidizing agents. |
InChIKey | AEMRFAOFKBGASW-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
LogP | -1.05 |
CAS DataBase Reference | CAS:79-14-1 |
NIST Chemistry Reference | Acetic acid, hydroxy-(79-14-1) |
EPA Substance Registry System | Glycolic acid (79-14-1) |
Safety Information
Item | Value |
|---|---|
Hazard Codes | C |
Risk Statements | 34-22-20 |
Safety Statements | 26-36/37/39-45-23 |
RIDADR | UN 3265 |
WGK Germany | 1 |
RTECS | MC5250000 |
TSCA | Listed |
HS Code | 29181998 |
HazardClass | 8 |
PackingGroup | II |
Hazardous Substances Data | 79-14-1(Hazardous Substances Data) |
Toxicity | LD50 orally in rats: 1.95 g/kg, H. F. Smyth et al., J. Ind. Hyg. Toxicol. 23, 259 (1941) |
Product Applications
Cosmetics & personal care: Exfoliating agent, humectant, skin brightener and pH regulator.
Industrial cleaning: Boiler descaling, pipeline & metal surface cleaning.
Textile industry: Dyeing and finishing auxiliary agent.
Chemical synthesis: Intermediate for esters and biodegradable polymers.
Leather industry: Tanning and finishing aid.
Agrochemicals: Raw material for pesticide additives.
