Also known as glycol, 1,2-ethanediol, abbreviated as EG. Its chemical formula is (CH2OH)2, a simple diol. Ethylene glycol is a colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting liquid with low toxicity to animals. It is miscible with water but has lower solubility in ethers. It is used as a solvent, antifreeze, and as a raw material for the synthesis of polyester. The polymer of ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol (PEG), is a phase transfer catalyst and is also used in cell fusion.
