Chemical Properties
White solid
Uses
Sodium thioglycolate has been used:
- as a growth supplement in enrichment media and to study its effect on Arcobacter
- in influenza hemagglutinin formulation in order to reduce disulfide-mediated cross-linking and early potency loss
- in electron microscopy
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.
Definition
The sodium salt of thioglycolic acid.
General Description
White powder with a slight odor. Used in cold-waving of hair and as a dipilatory.
Air & Water Reactions
Hygroscopic. Discolors on exposure to air. Water soluble.
Reactivity Profile
Sodium thioglycolate is hygroscopic and sensitive to air. Discolors if exposed to iron . May generate flammable and toxic hydrogen sulfide with strong reducing agents.
Hazard
Yields toxic hydrogen sulfide on decompo-
sition, may be toxic by skin absorption.
Fire Hazard
Flash point data for Sodium thioglycolate are not available. Sodium thioglycolate is probably combustible.
Flammability and Explosibility
Non flammable
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.
Safety Profile
Poison by intravenous and intraperitoneal routes. Moderately toxic by ingestion. A human skin irritant. This material yields hydrogen sulfide on decomposition. A death has been attributed to the absorption of toxic decomposition products from the use of this material in a hair permanent-waving solution. When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of SOx and Na2O. See also SULFIDES and MERCAPTANS.
Purification Methods
It crystallises from 60% EtOH (charcoal). It is hygroscopic.[Beilstein 3 IV 600.]
