Ever heard of Propane-1,2,3-triol? Me neither. Glycerin is actually the more common name for this chemical. Interchangeably, you can also say glycerine or glycerol (National Library of Medicine, n.d.). If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even say 1,2,3-Trihydroxypropane (NLM, n.d.). Glycerin is generally non-toxic, extremely versatile and is found in thousands of products. On one end, it is more commonly used in personal care and food products, while on the other, it’s used in antifreeze and explosives (Schlager et al., 2006). See? We love the versatility!
The biggest reason why glycerin is used in these products is that Glycerin is something called a humectant (Schlager et al., 2006). In other words, it is a moisturizing agent that pulls water out of the air to keep said product moist. With this in mind, it is used as a wonderful preservative in skincare products. It will conserve that moisture and prevent the product from drying out right away (Schlager et al., 2006). Alongside this, if your skin is drier than the Sahara desert, like mine, glycerin (combined with other ingredients) can provide a barrier to keep your skin from drying out. You will literally start glowing! In foods, glycerin acts as a sweetener and thickening agent (Schlager et al., 2006). Think about ice cream. The texture? Glycerin. The chewiness in granola bars? Glycerin. The sweetness in some candies? Glycerin! As for explosives, glycerin is used in dynamite. The chemical alone is not explosive; however, when mixed with strong acids like sulfuric and nitric acid, you can get a crazy weapon (NLM, n.d.).
Now, think about your car and -40 degree weather in Canada. How does your car not freeze? Well, glycerin is actually a huge component in antifreeze that helps your car start during those brisk mornings. Typically, bottles of antifreeze are comprised of a mixture of glycerin and water (Valvoline, n.d.), and at low temperatures, it resists freezing by supercooling instead of crystallizing (The Soap and Detergent Association, 1990). Let's all say, "thank you, glycerin!"
References
National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Compound summary: Glycerol. Pubchem.
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Glycerol
Schlager, N., Weisblatt, J., & Newton, D.E. (2006). Chemical compounds. Thomson Gale.
The Soap and Detergent Association. (1990). Glycerine: An overview.
https://www.aciscience.org/docs/Glycerine_-_an_overview.pdf
Valvoline. (n.d.). What is antifreeze?
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