Polysorbate 20
| Names | |
|---|---|
| IUPAC name
Polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate | |
Other names
| |
| Identifiers | |
| ChemSpider |
|
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.105.528 |
| E number | E432 (thickeners, ...) |
| RTECS number |
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| UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
|
| Properties | |
| C58H114O26 | |
| Molar mass | 1226 g/mol |
| Appearance | Clear, yellow to yellow-green viscous liquid. |
| Density | 1.1 g/mL (approximate) |
| Boiling point | > 100 °C (212 °F; 373 K) |
| Surface tension: | |
| 8.04×10−5 M at 21 °C | |
| 16.7 | |
| Hazards | |
| Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
Main hazards |
Irritant |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
| Flash point | 110 °C (230 °F; 383 K) |
| Safety data sheet (SDS) | External MSDS |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references | |
Polysorbate 20 (common commercial brand names include Kolliphor PS 20, Scattics, Alkest TW 20, Tween 20, and Kotilen-20) is a polysorbate-type nonionic surfactant formed by the ethoxylation of sorbitan monolaurate. Its stability and relative nontoxicity allows it to be used as a detergent and emulsifier in a number of domestic, scientific, and pharmacological applications. As the name implies, the ethoxylation process leaves the molecule with 20 repeat units of polyethylene glycol; in practice these are distributed across 4 different chains, leading to a commercial product containing a range of chemical species.