Methanediol
Methanediol is a widely used ingredient in cosmetics, personal care, and skincare formulations. Depending on its function, it may serve as a moisturizer, preservative, emulsifier, or active ingredient to enhance the overall effectiveness and performance of a product.
Methanediol, also known as formaldehyde monohydrate or methylene glycol, is an organic compound with chemical formula CH2(OH)2. It is the simplest geminal diol. In aqueous solutions it coexists with oligomers (short polymers). The compound is closely related and convertible to the industrially significant derivatives paraformaldehyde ((CH2O)n), formaldehyde (H2C=O), and 1,3,5-trioxane ((CH2O)3).
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| Names | |||
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| Preferred IUPAC name
Methanediol | |||
Other names
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| Identifiers | |||
3D model (JSmol)
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| Abbreviations | MADOL | ||
| 1730798 | |||
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| ECHA InfoCard | 100.006.673 | ||
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PubChem CID
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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| Properties | |||
| CH4O2 | |||
| Molar mass | 48.041 g·mol−1 | ||
| Appearance | Colourless liquid | ||
| Density | 1.199 g/cm3 [citation needed] | ||
| Boiling point | 194 °C (381 °F; 467 K) at 101 kPa [citation needed] | ||
| Vapor pressure | 16.1 Pa [citation needed] | ||
| Acidity (pKa) | 13.29 | ||
Refractive index (nD)
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1.401 [citation needed] | ||
| Hazards | |||
| Flash point | 99.753 °C (211.555 °F; 372.903 K) | ||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Methanediol is a product of the hydration of formaldehyde. The equilibrium constant for hydration is estimated to be 103,CH2(OH)2 predominates in dilute (<0.1%) solution. In more concentrated solutions, it oligomerizes to HO(CH2O)nH.
