Glycerin is a colorless liquid used in soap and beauty products due to its ability to absorb water and seal in moisture. It is also used in explosives, prints, preserved fruit, and as a lubricant. Glycerin is a by-product of soap making and can be extracted for use in more expensive products. It is hygroscopic and can cause blisters when placed on the tongue. The compound is obtained from animal fat candles or through mining.
Glycerin is a thick, colorless liquid with a sweet taste. It has a high boiling point and turns into a paste. Glycerin’s most common use is in soap and other beauty products such as lotions, although it is also used, in the form of nitroglycerin, to create dynamite.
This liquid is popular in beauty products because it’s a humectant — it absorbs ambient water. This means it can help seal in moisture. Not only is it used in the soap making process, it is also a by-product. Many soap manufacturers actually extract the glycerin during the soap making process and reserve it for use in more expensive products. A certain amount remains in each bar of soap, however, and can be added further to produce a clear finish and extra moisturizing qualities. The extra also improves the cleaning aspect of the soap.
Glycerin can be dissolved easily in alcohol and water but not in oils. The pure chemical compound is called Glycerol, which indicates that it is an alcohol.
The fact that it also readily absorbs water from the surrounding air means that glycerin is hygroscopic. If someone were to be left outdoors, they would absorb water from the surrounding air until the liquid was 20% water. A small amount placed on the tongue would cause blisters, as it is dehydrating. When beauty products containing this compound are used on well-hydrated skin, it can help lock in moisture.
Where glycerin comes from has changed over time. In 1889, for example, commercial candle making was the only way to get it. At that time, animal fat candles served as a source. Mining is a complicated process and there are various ways to do it. The easiest way is to mix the fat with the lye. When the two are mixed, soap is formed and the glycerin is then removed.
Glycerin has a variety of uses. It can be used to make dynamite, though it’s not just explosive, and must be processed before it can be used as an explosive. The compound is also used in prints and inks, preserved fruit, lotions, and as a lubricant. It can also be used to prevent freezing of hydraulic jacks. Its antiseptic qualities allow it to be used in the preservation of scientific specimens.
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