Chemical Properties | CLEAR COLOURLESS TO VERY SLIGHTLY YELLOW LIQUID |
Uses | Synthesis. |
Uses | Methoxyacetic acid is used in zebrafish embryotoxicity test to evaluate chemical toxicity after exposure of the complete vertebrate embryo during embryogenesis. It is also used in industry as gelling, viscosity and stabilizer reagent. |
Definition | ChEBI: A monocarboxylic acid that is acetic acid in which one of the methyl hydrogens is replaced by a methoxy group. |
General Description | Colorless liquid. |
Air & Water Reactions | Hygroscopic. Water soluble. |
Reactivity Profile | Methoxyacetic acid is incompatible with alkalis and metals. |
Health Hazard | ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: Methoxyacetic acid is corrosive. |
Fire Hazard | Methoxyacetic acid is combustible. |
Safety Profile | Moderately toxic by
ingestion. An experimental teratogen.
Experimental reproductive effects. Mutation
data reported. When heated to
decomposition it emits acrid smoke and
irritating fumes.
|
Purification Methods | Fractionally crystallise the acid by repeated partial freezing, then fractionally distil it under vacuum through a vacuum-jacketed Vigreux column ~20cm long (p 11). [Beilstein 3 IV 574.] |