Polyhydric alcohols ( polyalcohols , polyols ) are organic compounds of the alcohol class containing more than one hydroxyl group in their composition. Polyhydric alcohols are of particular importance in two areas: food industry and polymer chemistry .
Content
- 1 Chemical properties
- 2 Polyhydric alcohols in the food industry
- 3 Polyhydric alcohols in polymer chemistry
- 4 Typical Representatives
- 5 notes
- 6 Literature
- 7 References
Chemical Properties
The chemical properties of polyhydric alcohols include all the chemical properties of monohydric alcohols . Polyhydric alcohols also form complexes with ions of certain metals, which is often mistakenly regarded as an acid property: interaction with hydroxides.
For example, glycerol reacts with copper hydroxide in the presence of alkali to form a bright blue compound (copper glycerate) [1] .
Ethylene glycol enters a similar reaction. The reaction with copper hydroxide is a qualitative reaction for polyhydric alcohols.
Polyols in the food industry
Polyhydric alcohols are often added to products as sweeteners due to the fact that they are less high in calories than regular sugar and do not cause caries [2] . Typical representatives of such sweeteners are sorbitol and xylitol .
Polyhydric alcohols in polymer chemistry
In polymer chemistry, polyhydric alcohols are considered as seeds for the polymerization of ethylene oxide or propylene oxide . So, for example, polyurethanes are obtained from such polymers when combined with isocyanates [3] .
Typical Representatives
- Diols - ethylene glycol [4] , 1,2-propylene glycol [5] , 1,3-propylene glycol [5] , 1,4-butanediol [6]
- Triols - Glycerin [7]
- Hexaols - Mannitol , Sorbitol [8]
Notes
- β Khomchenko G.P. A allowance in chemistry for applicants to universities. - 2002 .-- S. 390-391. - 480 p.
- β Polyhydric alcohols and dental health (Inaccessible link) . Date of treatment July 4, 2013. Archived February 25, 2010.
- β Chinn, Henry; Akihiro Kishi and Uwe Loechner. Polyether Polyols for Urethanes (abstract only without subscription) . SRI Consulting (April 2006). Date of treatment July 4, 2013. Archived July 9, 2013.
- β Polyhydric alcohols (inaccessible link) . Date of treatment July 4, 2013. Archived on April 26, 2013.
- β 1 2 Propylene glycol. general information
- β 1,4-butanediol
- β What is glycerin
- β Sorbitol in the chemical encyclopedia
Literature
- Vyazemsky A. D. Practical manual in chemistry
Links
- Polyhydric alcohols - an article from the Great Soviet Encyclopedia .