2-Mercaptoethanol, CAS No. 60-24-2

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60-24-2

Catalog No. EBD45169

CAS 60-24-2

Name 2-Mercaptoethanol

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Basic Information

Synonyms: 2-Mercaptoethanol Thioglycol 2-MercaptoethanolThioethyleneglycol ethylenethioglycol 2-Mercaptoethanol,MolecularBiologyGradeThioethyleneglycol,MolecularBiologyGrade b-Mercaptoethanol,MBGrade(1.12006) Thioethyleneglycol~Thioglycol 2-sulfanylethanol 2-Hydroxy-1-ethanethiol

Molecular Formula: C2H6OS

Molecular Weight: 7813.0

MDL Number: MFCD00004890

Product Description:

2-Mercaptoethanol is a simple organosulfur compound with the formula HOCH_CH_SH. It is a colorless liquid with a strong, unpleasant thiol odor. Structurally, it consists of a short alkyl chain bearing both a hydroxyl group and a thiol group, making it a potent reducing agent and a nucleophile. Its primary application is in biochemistry and molecular biology as a reducing agent to break disulfide bonds in proteins. By reducing these bonds, 2-mercaptoethanol denatures proteins, which is essential for techniques like SDS-PAGE to analyze protein subunits. It is also widely used to protect enzymes and other proteins from oxidation, thereby maintaining their activity in solution. In cell culture, it is often added to media to reduce oxidative stress and improve cell growth. Beyond its biochemical role, 2-mercaptoethanol serves as a versatile synthetic building block in organic chemistry. It is used as a chain transfer agent in polymerization reactions and as a precursor for synthesizing various sulfur-containing compounds. Due to its toxicity and strong odor, it requires careful handling under a fume hood.

Physical Properties

Melting Point: -100 °C

Boiling Point: 157 °C(lit.)

Flash Point: 74 °C

Density: 2.69 (vs air)

Solubility: Miscible with water, ethanol, ether and benzene

Refractivity: n20/D 1.500(lit.)

Storage: 2-8°C

Safety Information

Packing Level: II

Hazard Category: 6.1

Transport Codes: 2966

Analytical Data

Appearance: Clear colorless liquid