1,4-Dioxane
1,4-Dioxane is a cyclic ether with formula C₄H₈O₂, used as an industrial solvent and found as a contaminant in some water supplies.
Cyclic ether: An ether whose oxygen atom lies within a ring of atoms. 1,4-Dioxane is a six-membered ring containing two ether oxygen atoms.
Industrial solvent: A liquid used in industrial processes to dissolve, extract, or clean materials. 1,4-Dioxane served as a solvent in manufacturing and chemical processing.
Carcinogen: An agent capable of causing cancer in humans or other animals. Animal studies and other evidence underpin concern about long-term 1,4-dioxane exposure.
1,3-Dioxolane: A five-membered cyclic acetal with formula C₃H₆O₂, used as a solvent and chemical intermediate. It is a related oxygen-containing ring, but has a different ring size and structure.
Molecular polarity: The uneven distribution of electrical charge across a molecule. Its polarity helps explain why 1,4-dioxane mixes readily with water.
Cellulose acetate: A cellulose-derived polymer used in fibers, films, coatings, and molded products. 1,4-Dioxane has been used as a solvent in cellulose acetate production.
Liver cancer: A cancer arising in the liver, including hepatocellular carcinoma and other tumor types. Long-term exposure to 1,4-dioxane caused liver tumors in laboratory animals.
Tetrahydrofuran: A five-membered cyclic ether with formula C₄H₈O, used as an industrial solvent. Its similar solvent uses contrast with 1,4-dioxane's second oxygen atom.
Hydrogen bonding: An attraction involving hydrogen bonded to electronegative atoms and nearby electron-rich atoms. Water hydrogen-bonds with 1,4-dioxane, supporting its high water solubility.
1,1,1-Trichloroethane: A chlorinated solvent formerly used in cleaning and degreasing products. 1,4-Dioxane was added to stabilize some formulations containing this solvent.