Important Topic: Ethylene

Introduction

Ethylene glycol: The organic molecule ethylene glycol has the formula (CH₂OH)₂. It is primarily utilized for two purposes: as a raw ingredient in the production of polyester fibres and in the formulation of antifreeze. It’s a poisonous, odourless, colourless, sweet-tasting liquid with a thick consistency. It can also be used as a delivery system for pharmaceuticals. Ethylene glycol does have a sweet flavour and is frequently swallowed, either accidentally or intentionally. In the body, ethylene glycol degrades into harmful chemicals. The nervous system (CNS) is the first organ to be affected by ethylene glycol and its toxic metabolites, followed by the heart. It is possible to die if you consume too much. It has no odour.

A brief outline

Ethylene glycol is a common industrial component that can be found in a variety of consumer goods. Antifreeze, hydraulic braking fluids, ballpoint pens, solvent, paints, resins, films, and cosmetics are just a few examples. Ethylene glycol is extremely dangerous, and animals or humans who consume it become extremely unwell and may die. Polyesters, explosives, alkyd resins, and synthetic waxes are all made with it as a reagent. When compared to other organic fuels like methanol and ethanol, ethylene glycol has higher activity, higher energy density, lower volatility, and a higher boiling point. Ethylene glycol is a transparent liquid in its purest form. It would have minimal inclination to evaporate into the atmosphere if discharged into the environment as a spill. Ethylene glycol is miscible with water if it is discharged into the surface or groundwater. It could have a low proclivity for partitioning from the solution to the atmosphere.

Important concepts

Uses of ethylene glycol

Ethylene glycol is an important industrial component that may be found in a variety of consumer goods. Antifreeze, hydraulic brake fluids, some pad inks, ballpoint pens, solvents, paints, polymers, films, and cosmetics are all examples. It can also be used as a delivery system for pharmaceuticals.

Ethylene glycol is a viscous liquid used as a raw ingredient in the production of the following products:

1. A component used in the manufacture of automobile coolants and antifreeze.
2. They’re utilized in the production of polyester fibres.
3. It’s a reagent that’s utilized in the production of explosives, artificial waxes, and alkyd resins.
4. Fibreglass for bathtubs, bowling balls, and jet skis is also made with it.
5. It’s also utilized in the manufacture of commercial coolants for ventilation, gas compressor, air-conditioning systems.

• Anti-freeze

Ethylene glycol was being used as a de-icing fluid for windscreens and aircraft, as an antifreeze in vehicle engines, and as a constituent of vitrification mixes for low-temperature conservation of human tissues and organs because of its low freezing temperatures.

The addition of ethylene glycol lowers the freezing point of aqueous mixes while also raising the boiling point. This broadens the operational temperature range for heat-transfer fluids on both ends of the temperature scale. Because pure ethylene glycol has a far greater boiling point and lowers vapour pressure than pure water, the boiling temperature rises, as it does with most binary combinations of volatile liquids.

• A polymer’s precursor

1. 1. Ethylene glycol is a key ingredient in the production of polyester fibres and resins in the plastics industry. Ethylene glycol is used to create polyethene terephthalate, which is used to make soft drink bottles.
   2. Ethylene glycol, like trimethylene glycol, is used in the natural gas industry to remove water vapour from natural gas before further processing (TEG).
   3. Ethylene glycol is used to dehydrate natural gas. Ethylene glycol pours down from the top of a tower and collides with a rising mixture of water vapour and hydrocarbon gases in this application. The summit of the tower emits dry gas. The glycol is separated from the water, and the glycol is reused. Ethylene glycol can also be used to depress the pH instead of removing water.

• Ethylene glycol water

The freezing point of pure glycol or a mixture of glycol and water is substantially lower than that of pure water. Glycol-based chillers, therefore, are better suitable for low situations. Water, on the other hand, has a stronger ability to retain and transfer heat from a process than a glycol mixture. Water glycol fluids typically have a pressure range of up to 2000 psi at temperatures below 150°F. When loads are moderate and solely hydrodynamic lubrication is used, their lubricating quality is excellent.

Significance of ethylene in NEE exam

The students delve deeper into the significance of ethylene since it has been classified in this chapter. They’re looking for new ways to employ ethylene glycol to make it easier to study. The actual structure and functional relationships of ethylene are discussed in this article. It is worth 5 marks on the final Biology test and carries a 2% weighting in the NEET.

FAQ’s

Is Ethylene Glycol Harmful to Humans in Any Way?

Ethylene glycol breaks down and generates compounds when it enters the human body. These molecules eventually crystallize and accumulate in our body's various organs. The development of crystals in the kidney is one example. The proper functioning of the kidney is harmed by these stones. Ethylene glycol also produces acidic substances in our bodies. These substances can alter the body's acid/base balance, impacting the human body's lungs, heart, and nervous system.

What is Ethylene Glycol's Environmental Impact?

Ethylene glycol is a chemical substance used in industry that is manufactured in enormous quantities. When substantial amounts of the chemical reach the environment, it may be dangerous. It takes around ten days to break down in the air, and a few weeks to break down in soil and water. Low doses aren't dangerous, but when available in large numbers, it serves as a teratogen.

What is the purpose of antifreeze?

It's a coloured liquid that's blended with water to help regulate your engine's temperature in hot weather. Coolant is injected throughout the engine block to maintain a consistent operating temperature while the weather outside changes from hot to cold.