2-Mercaptoethanol

2-Mercaptoethanol
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
2-Sulfanylethan-1-ol[1]
Other names
2-Mercaptoethan-1-ol
2-Hydroxy-1-ethanethiol
β-Mercaptoethanol
Thioglycol
Beta-merc
Identifiers
CAS Number
3D model (JSmol)
Beilstein Reference
773648
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.000.422
EC Number
  • 200-464-6
Gmelin Reference
1368
KEGG
MeSH Mercaptoethanol
PubChem CID
RTECS number
  • KL5600000
UNII
UN number 2966
InChI
  • InChI=1S/C2H6OS/c3-1-2-4/h3-4H,1-2H2 Y
    Key: DGVVWUTYPXICAM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
SMILES
  • OCCS
Properties
Chemical formula
C2H6OS
Molar mass 78.13 g·mol−1
Odor Disagreeable, distinctive
Density 1.114 g/cm3
Melting point −100 °C (−148 °F; 173 K)
Boiling point 157 °C; 314 °F; 430 K
log P −0.23
Vapor pressure 0.76 hPa (at 20 °C);
4.67 hPa (at 40 °C)
Acidity (pKa) 9.643
Basicity (pKb) 4.354
Refractive index (nD)
1.4996
Hazards
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word
Danger
Hazard statements
H301, H310, H315, H317, H318, H330, H410
Precautionary statements
P260, P273, P280, P284, P301+P310, P302+P350
Flash point 68 °C (154 °F; 341 K)
Explosive limits 18%
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
244 mg/kg (oral, rat)[2]
150 mg/kg (skin, rabbit)[2]
Related compounds
Related compounds
Ethylene glycol
1,2-Ethanedithiol
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
N verify (what is YN ?)
Infobox references

2-Mercaptoethanol (also β-mercaptoethanol, BME, 2BME, 2-ME or β-met) is the chemical compound with the formula HOCH2CH2SH. ME or βME, as it is commonly abbreviated, is used to reduce disulfide bonds and can act as a biological antioxidant by scavenging hydroxyl radicals (amongst others). It is widely used because the hydroxyl group confers solubility in water and lowers the volatility. Due to its diminished vapor pressure, its odor, while unpleasant, is less objectionable than related thiols.

  1. ^ Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry : IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013 (Blue Book). Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry. 2014. p. 697. doi:10.1039/9781849733069-FP001. ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4. The prefixes 'mercapto' (–SH), and 'hydroseleno' or selenyl (–SeH), etc. are no longer recommended.
  2. ^ a b 2-Mercaptoethanol