CLEAR COLOURLESS TO VERY SLIGHTLY YELLOW LIQUID
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.
ChEBI: A monocarboxylic acid that is acetic acid in which one of the methyl hydrogens is replaced by a methoxy group.
Hygroscopic. Water soluble.
Methoxyacetic acid is incompatible with alkalis and metals.
ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: Methoxyacetic acid is corrosive.
Methoxyacetic acid is combustible.
Moderately toxic by
ingestion. An experimental teratogen.
Experimental reproductive effects. Mutation
data reported. When heated to
decomposition it emits acrid smoke and
irritating fumes.
Methoxyacetic acid is prepared from Monochloroacetic acid with
Sodium methylate.
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.]
