General Description
White powder with a slight odor. Used in cold-waving of hair and as a dipilatory.
Reactivity Profile
THIOGLYCOLIC ACID, SODIUM SALT(367-51-1) is hygroscopic and sensitive to air. Discolors if exposed to iron . May generate flammable and toxic hydrogen sulfide with strong reducing agents.
Air & Water Reactions
Hygroscopic. Discolors on exposure to air. Water soluble.
Hazard
Yields toxic hydrogen sulfide on decompo-
sition, may be toxic by skin absorption.
Fire Hazard
Flash point data for this chemical are not available. THIOGLYCOLIC ACID, SODIUM SALT is probably combustible.
Chemical Properties
White solid
Uses
dipilatory, irritant, chelating agent
Uses
In cold-waving of hair; as depilatory; in bacteriology for the preparation of thioglycolate media; as analytical reagent, see Thioglycolic Acid.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
Biochem/physiol Actions
Sodium thioglycolate is a commonly used reagent for bacteriological research to maintain reducing conditions in media. Thioglycolate can also protect enzymes against inactivation by maintaining protein thiol groups in the reduced state. Thioglycolate medium is frequently used in inflammation research to elicit a neutrophil and macrophage response in vivo.
Purification Methods
It crystallises from 60% EtOH (charcoal). It is hygroscopic.[Beilstein 3 IV 600.]
