Glyoxal Chemical Properties

Melting point:

-14 °C

Boiling point:

104 °C

Density 

1.265 g/mL at 25 °C

vapor density 

>1 (vs air)

vapor pressure 

18 mm Hg ( 20 °C)

refractive index 

n20/D 1.409

Flash point:

104°C

storage temp. 

2-8°C

solubility 

water: soluble(lit.)

form 

Liquid

color 

Clear colorless to yellow

Odor

yel. crystals or lt. yel. liq., mild odor

Water Solubility 

miscible

Merck 

14,4509

BRN 

1732463

Exposure limits

ACGIH: TWA 0.1 mg/m3

Stability:

Stability Combustible. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. Strong reducing agent. May polyermize exothermically. Incompatible with air, water, oxygen, peroxides, amides, amines, hydroxy-containing materials, nitric acid, aldehydes. Corrodes many metals.

InChIKey

LEQAOMBKQFMDFZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N

LogP

-1.15 at 20℃

CAS DataBase Reference

107-22-2(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

Ethanedial(107-22-2)

EPA Substance Registry System

Glyoxal (107-22-2)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

Xn

Risk Statements 

20-36/38-43-68

Safety Statements 

36/37

RIDADR 

UN 1760

WGK Germany 

1

RTECS 

MD2700000

Autoignition Temperature

545 °F

TSCA 

Yes

HS Code 

29121900

Hazardous Substances Data

107-22-2(Hazardous Substances Data)

Toxicity

LD50 in rats, guinea pigs (mg/kg): 2020, 760 orally (Smyth)

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich
• Language:English Provider:ACROS
• Language:English Provider:ALFA

Glyoxal Usage And Synthesis

Chemical Properties

colourless or light yellow liquid

Uses

ermanent-press fabrics; dimensional stabilization of rayon and other fibers. Insolubilizing agent for compounds containing polyhydroxyl groups (polyvinyl alcohol, starch, and cellulosic materials); insolubilizing of proteins (casein, gelatin, and animal glue); embalming fluids; leather tanning; paper coatings with hydroxyethylcellulose; reducing agent in dyeing textiles.

Uses

Glyoxal is used in the production of textilesand glues and in organic synthesis.

Uses

Glyoxal is used to prepare 4,5-dihydroxy-2-imidazolidinone by condensation with urea. It finds application in leather tanning process, textile finishes and paper coatings. It is an important building block in the synthesis of imidazoles. It acts as a solubilizer and cross-linking agent in polymer chemistry. Further, it is used as a fixative for histology to preserve cells in order to examine under a microscope.

Definition

ChEBI: Glyoxal is the dialdehyde that is the smallest possible and which consists of ethane having oxo groups on both carbons. It has a role as a pesticide, an agrochemical, an allergen and a plant growth regulator.

General Description

Yellow crystals melting at15°C. Hence often encountered as a light yellow liquid with a weak sour odor. Vapor has a green color and burns with a violet flame.

Air & Water Reactions

Mixtures with air may explode. Polymerizes quickly on standing, or on contact with a trace of water (possibly a violent reaction), or when dissolved in solvents containing water, [Merck, 502(1968)]. Soluble in water. An aqueous solution contains mono molecular Glyoxal. [Hawley]

Reactivity Profile

Glyoxal reacts vigorously with strong oxidizing agents such as nitric acid. Polymerizes rapidly even at low temperature if anhydrous [Noller]. Aqueous solutions are more stable but also polymerize on standing. Reacts with itself in the presence of base to give glyconates. Undergoes addition and condensation reactions that may be exothermic with amines, amides, aldehydes, and hydroxide-containing materials. Mixing in equal molar portions with any of the following substances in a closed container caused the temperature and pressure to increase: chlorosulfonic acid, oleum, ethyleneimine, nitric acid, sodium hydroxide [NFPA 1991].

Hazard

Mixture of vapor and air may explode. Questionable carcinogen.

Health Hazard

Inhalation causes some irritation of nose and,40% solution throat. Contact with liquid,40% solution irritates eyes and causes mild irritation of skin; stains skin yellow. (No information available on symptoms of ingestion.)

Health Hazard

Glyoxal is a skin and eye irritant; the effectmay be mild to severe. Its vapors are irritatingto the skin and respiratory tract. Anamount of 1.8 mg caused severe irritation inrabbits’ eyes. Glyoxal exhibited low toxicityin test subjects. Ingestion may cause somnolenceand gastrointestinal pain.
LD50 value, oral (guinea pigs): 760 mg/kg.

Fire Hazard

Behavior in Fire: Heat may cause polymerization to a combustible, viscous material.

Flammability and Explosibility

Not classified

Safety Profile

Low toxicity by SYN: AEROTEX GLYOXAL 40 ingestion and skin contact. A skin irritant. A powerful reducing agent. May explode on contact with air. Polymerizes violently on contact with water. During storage it may spontaneously polymerize and ignite. Reacts violently with chlorosulfonic acid, ethylene imine, HNO3, oleum, NaOH, can cause violent reactions. Can explode during manufacture. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes. See also ALDEHYDES.

Waste Disposal

Glyoxal is mixed with a combustible solventand burned in a chemical incineratorequipped with an afterburner and scrubber.

Glyoxal(107-22-2)Related Product Information

• Dimethylglyoxime
• Ethylene glycol
• Acetaldehyde
• OXALIC ACID
• Ethylbenzene
• Ethylenebis(oxyethylenenitrilo)tetraacetic acid
• Ethylene dimethacrylate
• Ethyl propenyl ether
• Ethylcyclohexane
• Squaric acid
• RHODIZONIC ACID DIPOTASSIUM SALT
• Oxalyl chloride
• Glyoxal, methyl
• Glyoxal, dimethyl-
• 3-Methyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione
• RHODIZONIC ACID DIHYDRATE
• Ethyl bromopyruvate
• Ethyl oxalyl monochloride