Ethylene Glycol Chemical Properties

Due to its low molecular weight and active nature, it can undergo esterification, etherification, alcoholization, oxidation, acetalization, dehydration and other reactions.
Similar to ethanol, it can mainly react with inorganic or organic acids to form esters. Generally, only one hydroxyl group reacts first. By increasing the temperature and the amount of acid, both hydroxyl groups can form esters. If it reacts with nitric acid mixed with sulfuric acid, dinitrate esters are formed. Acid chlorides or anhydrides can easily form esters with two hydroxyl groups.
When ethylene glycol is heated under the action of a catalyst (manganese dioxide, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide or sulfuric acid), intramolecular or intermolecular water loss may occur.
Ethylene glycol can react with alkali metals or alkaline earth metals to form alcohol salts. Usually, when the metal is dissolved in the diol, only a monobasic alcohol salt is obtained; if this alcohol salt (such as monosodium ethylene glycol) is heated to 180-200 °C in a hydrogen flow, disodium ethylene glycol and ethylene glycol can be formed.
In addition, disodium ethylene glycol can be obtained by heating ethylene glycol with 2 mol of sodium methoxide. Disodium ethylene glycol reacts with alkyl halides to form ethylene glycol monoether or diether. Disodium ethylene glycol reacts with 1,2-dibromoethane to form dioxane.
In addition, ethylene glycol is also easily oxidized. Depending on the oxidant used or the reaction conditions, various products can be generated, such as glycolaldehyde HOCH2CHO, glyoxal OHCCHO, glycolic acid HOCH2COOH, oxalic acid HOOCCOOH, carbon dioxide and water.
Ethylene glycol is different from other glycols. Carbon chain cleavage can occur after oxidation with periodic acid. Application Ethylene glycol can often replace glycerol. In the leather and pharmaceutical industries, it is used as a hydrating agent and solvent, respectively.
The derivative of ethylene glycol, dinitrate, is an explosive. The monomethyl ether or monoethyl ether of ethylene glycol is a good solvent. For example, the cellosolve HOCH2CH2OCH3 can dissolve fibers, resins, paints and many other organic substances.
Ethylene glycol has a strong dissolving ability, but it is easily metabolized and oxidized to produce toxic oxalic acid, so it cannot be widely used as a solvent.