Propylene glycol

Propylene glycol is a colorless, nearly odorless diol that mixes with water and is used as a solvent, humectant, and antifreeze ingredient.

Food additive: A substance added to food to preserve it or alter its properties. Propylene glycol serves as a solvent, carrier, and moisture-retaining additive in some foods.
Propane-1,2-diol: The IUPAC name for the two-carbon-chain diol commonly called propylene glycol. This name specifies the positions of the two hydroxyl groups in the molecule.
Ethylene glycol: A two-carbon diol used in antifreeze and industrial products that is highly toxic when swallowed. It resembles propylene glycol chemically but poses a much greater poisoning hazard.
Propylene glycol toxicity: The harmful effects that can occur when propylene glycol exposure exceeds the body’s capacity to process it. High or prolonged exposure can cause adverse effects, especially in vulnerable patients.
Pharmaceutical excipient: An inactive ingredient that helps manufacture or deliver a medicine. Propylene glycol dissolves or carries active ingredients in some oral, topical, and injectable medicines.
Hydroxyl group: An oxygen–hydrogen functional group bonded to a carbon atom. Two hydroxyl groups make propylene glycol strongly interactive with water.
Glycerol: A three-carbon triol used in foods, medicines, and personal-care products. Glycerol has three hydroxyl groups, while propylene glycol has two.
Lactic acidosis: A buildup of lactate in the blood that lowers its pH. Propylene glycol metabolism can contribute to lactic acidosis during substantial medical exposure.
Humectant: A substance that attracts and retains moisture. Its water-binding properties help keep cosmetics and personal-care products moist.
Hydrogen bond: An attractive interaction involving hydrogen bonded to an electronegative atom. Hydrogen bonding helps account for propylene glycol’s water miscibility and low volatility.

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