Identification of Ethylene Oxide
The simplest qualitative reaction for ethylene oxide uses its property to precipitate insoluble hydroxides of metals when it is passed through aqueous solutions of their salts, for example
- 2 (CH2CH2)O + MnCl2 + 2 H2O → 2 HO–CH2CH2–Cl + Mn(OH)2↓
Similarly, ethylene oxide is detected by the bright pink color of the indicator when passing air through aqueous solutions of some salts of sodium or potassium (chlorides, iodides, thiosulfates, etc.) with the addition of phenolphthalein:
- (CH2CH2)O + NaCl + H2O → HO–CH2CH2–Cl + NaOH
Other methods of ethylene oxide detection are color reactions with pyridine derivatives and hydrolysis of ethylene glycol with periodic acid. The produced iodic acid is detected with silver nitrate.
The main physical method of ethylene oxide detection is gas chromatography.
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