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Wintergreen oil

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Wintergreen oil 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.

Wintergreen oil (Wikipedia)

Methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen or wintergreen oil) is an organic compound with the formula C8H8O3. It is the methyl ester of salicylic acid. It is a colorless, viscous liquid with a sweet, fruity odor reminiscent of root beer (in which it is used as a flavoring), but often associatively called "minty", as it is an ingredient in mint candies. It is produced by many species of plants, particularly wintergreens. It is also produced synthetically, used as a fragrance and as a flavoring agent.

Methyl salicylate
Skeletal formula
Ball-and-stick model
Space-filling model
Sample of a clear liquid
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Methyl 2-hydroxybenzoate
Other names
  • Salicylic acid methyl ester
  • Oil of wintergreen
  • Betula oil
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.003.925 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 204-317-7
KEGG
RTECS number
  • VO4725000
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C8H8O3/c1-11-8(10)6-4-2-3-5-7(6)9/h2-5,9H,1H3 checkY
    Key: OSWPMRLSEDHDFF-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C8H8O3/c1-11-8(10)6-4-2-3-5-7(6)9/h2-5,9H,1H3
    Key: OSWPMRLSEDHDFF-UHFFFAOYAD
  • O=C(OC)c1ccccc1O
Properties
C8H8O3
Molar mass 152.149 g/mol
Appearance Colorless liquid
Odor Sweet, rooty
Density 1.174 g/cm3
Melting point −8.6 °C (16.5 °F; 264.5 K)
Boiling point 222 °C (432 °F; 495 K)
Decomposes at 340–350 °C
0.639 g/L (21 °C)
0.697 g/L (30 °C)
Solubility Miscible in organic solvents
Solubility in acetone 10.1 g/g (30 °C)
Vapor pressure 1 mmHg (54 °C)
Acidity (pKa) 9.8
−8.630×10−5 cm3/mol
1.538
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
 Harmful
GHS labelling:
GHS07: Exclamation mark
Warning
H302
P264, P270, P280, P301+P312, P302+P352, P305+P351+P338, P321, P330, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformFlammability 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g. canola oilInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
2
1
0
Flash point 96 °C (205 °F; 369 K)
452.7 °C (846.9 °F; 725.8 K)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
checkY verify (what is checkY☒N ?)
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