Glycerin vs Glycerol Guide

[*-SARIN-*]

So we see both of these terms banded around but is there a difference between the two and if so what are they?

The short answer is that to the common person they are the same thing, to an organic chemist they are different, albeit on a slight technicality.

Glycerol's proper name is Propan-1, 2, 3-triol and is classed as an alcohol in organic chemistry (the "ol" in triol gives this away, the "tri" means that there are 3 alcohol groups (-OH).

It looks like this:




Glycerin is a commercial term used when there is more than 95% glycerol in the substance. <-------- The slight technicality bit

It may also me called Glycerine, Propantriol, or 1,2,3-trihydroxypropane depending on the nomenclature naming convention used.

For vaping we use the vegetable variety and not surprisingly it has a very similar chemical make up to propylene Glycol (PG), which has just two alcohol(-OH) groups rather than 3!

PG:

[RangersBillyBoy]

*-SARIN-* it's amazing having someone with such knowledge here.

I think you lost thebishman after the word 'so'.

[jtc]

Hmmm
So is boots stuff still OK for vaping?

[*-SARIN-*]

Feb 26, 2016 17:03:08 GMT jtc said:

Hmmm
So is boots stuff still OK for vaping?

Aye

[calnorth]

Daft question: if its an alcohol how does a litre of it relate to say a litre off beer.

this website application is picking me up on litre...wants liter.

[*-SARIN-*]

Feb 26, 2016 17:15:59 GMT calnorth said:

Daft question: if its an alcohol how does a litre of it relate to say a litre off beer.

this website application is picking me up on litre...wants liter.

Two different things i'm afraid.  This is referring to alcohol as any chemical substance with at least one hydroxyl (alcohol) functional group (-OH), rather than the piss heads generic name for ethanol - the good stuff that gives you superhuman powers, makes you highly intelligent, a splendid dancer and the tendency to fall over

Just to stave off the next question, no you can't get pissed on vegetable gycol  / glycerol even though it is classed as an alcohol and here's why.

Ethanol (beer, etc) is a tiny molecule that has specific effects on the human brain and CNS due to it's conformation (shape).  Because of it's size and shape it can cross the blood brain barrier and is fat soluble so has an access all areas pass to all cell membranes.

[thebishman]

Feb 26, 2016 16:46:39 GMT RangersBillyBoy said:

*-SARIN-* it's amazing having someone with such knowledge here.

I think you lost thebishman after the word 'so'.

Lol plonker