Glycerol or glycerin as it is also known as is an odorless, colorless, viscous liquid that is used in personal care, medical, and pharmaceutical preparations. The main purpose of using glycerol in these preparations is to act as a humectant, provide lubrication, and improve smoothness. Glycerol’s structure makes it possible for it to be soluble in water and also gives it its hygroscopic character. Glycerol’s molecular structure or molecular formula is C3H5(OH)3, and Carl Wilhelm Scheele from Sweden discovered it in 1779.
Glycerol is the backbone of lipids called triglycerides. Fatty acids and glycerol make up or are produced from the metabolism of ethanol and are the building blocks of lipids. One important feature of glycerol is that it is not harmful to humans and glycerol has many uses in the body. Glycerol uses are therefore many and diverse, and one also sees its use in many products that go into the body. Glycerol compounds have certain chemical properties that allow one to use it where oil cannot be used. It is used in a number of syrups such as lotions and cough medicines as the base or "body". It is also used in food flavorings in vanilla extracts. Glycerin when added to ice cream helps make the texture better and also adds to the sweetness, thereby decreasing the quantity of sugar that one needs to use.
Glycerol is also used as a base in toothpaste and helps add to its shine and smoothness. Glycerin is extensively used in the cosmetic industry in products such as skin conditioners as it helps restore skin moisture that is lost, relieves chapping, and also helps keep the skin soft. When added to hair shampoos, glycerol improves the flow of these products from the bottle. The raisins that are added to some cereals are soaked in glycerol as a result of which they remain soft. Castings used for meat and food wraps remain flexible because of the glycerin that is used in it. Adding glycerol to chewing tobacco makes it slightly sweeter and treating tobacco with this chemical helps prevent it from crumbling and becoming brittle.
Glycerol when added to soaps helps make the bars shiny and transparent. Glycerol derivatives are also used in a number of applications. Nitroglycerin one of the derivatives of glycerol is the main ingredient used in manufacturing dynamite explosives. Nitroglycerin used with nitrocellulose can be used in military applications. Nitroglycerin also works as a drug and helps ease chest pain. Soft contact lenses are manufactured with the help of glycerol methacrryate.
In addition to the glycerol uses mentioned, it is also used in the manufacture of foams that are used in refrigerators and refrigerators (to insulate and make them sound proof). This is possible because glycerol also has a trihydric structure made of alcohol (glycerol trioleate). Glycerol can also be used as a catalyst while preparing vinegar from alcohol. When glycerol is heated with acetic acid, you get derivatives of glycerol known as acetins. Monoacetin is used for tanning leather, manufacturing dynamite, and as a solvent. Triacetin is used to manufacture cigarette filters and is also a very important component of solid rocket fuels.
To sum up, glycerol uses are many and varied. As mentioned, it is used in the manufacture of drugs such as cough remedies, lozenges, gargles, ear infection remedies, suppositories, and capsules. Glycerin is used to sweeten, preserve, and moisten certain drinks and foods such as cakes, dry food, cheese and meat, soft drinks, and candles. Some other glycerol uses include its use in the manufacture of toiletries and cosmetics. It is used in products such as pre-shaving lotions, toothpaste, skin lotions and creams, deodorants, lipsticks, make up, and mascara.
answered by G M