glycerol etymology

Etymology

The word "glycerol" is derived from the Greek word "glykeros," which means "sweet" or "sweet tasting." This refers to the sweet taste of glycerol when it is pure and unadulterated.

Meaning

Glycerol, also known as glycerin, is a sugar alcohol with the chemical formula CH2OHCHOHCH2OH. It is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is soluble in water.

Origin

Glycerol occurs naturally in many plants and animals, including vegetable oils and animal fats. It was first isolated from olive oil by the Swedish chemist Carl Wilhelm Scheele in 1783. Scheele named the substance "süßes Prinzip aus Ölen" (sweet principle of oils), which was later Latinized to "glycerinum" and eventually Englished to "glycerol."

Today, glycerol is produced commercially as a byproduct of soap making and other chemical processes. It has a wide range of uses in the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries.

glycerol relate terms

• glycerine

  Etymology The word glycerine is derived from the Greek word glykeros meaning sweet

• glycerin

  Etymology The word glycerin comes from the Greek word glykeros which means sweet o

• glycerin

  Etymology The word glycerin comes from the Greek word glykeros which means sweet o

• glyco

  Etymology From Ancient Greek γλυκύς glykús sweet From Proto Indo European

• glycerol

  Etymology The word glycerol is derived from the Greek word glykeros which means swe

• alcohol

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• phenol

  Etymology From Ancient Greek φοινικός phoinikós meaning blood red purple

• alcohol

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• case

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