2-Mercaptoethanol

2-Mercaptoethanol
Names
	Preferred IUPAC name 2-Sulfanylethan-1-ol
	Other names 2-Mercaptoethan-1-ol; 2-Hydroxy-1-ethanethiol; β-Mercaptoethanol; Thioglycol; Beta-merc, BME, 2BME, 2-ME, β-met
Identifiers
CAS Number	60-24-2 ;
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
Beilstein Reference	773648
ChEBI	CHEBI:41218 ;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL254951 ;
ChemSpider	1512 ;
DrugBank	DB03345 ;
ECHA InfoCard	100.000.422
EC Number	200-464-6;
Gmelin Reference	1368
KEGG	C00928 ;
MeSH	Mercaptoethanol
PubChem CID	1567;
RTECS number	KL5600000;
UNII	14R9K67URN ;
UN number	2966
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID4026343 ;
	InChI InChI=1S/C2H6OS/c3-1-2-4/h3-4H,1-2H2 Key: DGVVWUTYPXICAM-UHFFFAOYSA-N ;
	SMILES OCCS;
Properties
Chemical formula	C2H6OS
Molar mass	78.13 g·mol−1
Odor	Disagreeable, distinctive
Density	1.114 g/cm3
Melting point	−100 °C (−148 °F; 173 K)
Boiling point	157 °C; 314 °F; 430 K
log P	−0.23
Vapor pressure	0.76 hPa (at 20 °C);; 4.67 hPa (at 40 °C)
Acidity (pKa)	9.643
Basicity (pKb)	4.354
Refractive index (nD)	1.4996
Hazards
	GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Signal word	Danger
Hazard statements	H301, H310, H315, H317, H318, H330, H410
Precautionary statements	P260, P273, P280, P284, P301+P310, P302+P350
Flash point	68 °C (154 °F; 341 K)
Explosive limits	18%
	Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
LD50 (median dose)	244 mg/kg (oral, rat)
Related compounds
Related compounds	Ethylene glycol; 1,2-Ethanedithiol
	Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). verify (what is ?) Infobox references

2-Mercaptoethanol is the organosulfur compound with the formula HOCH₂CH₂SH. ME or βME, as it is commonly abbreviated, is used to reduce disulfide bonds. It is widely used because the hydroxyl group confers solubility in water and lowers the volatility. Due to its diminished vapor pressure, its odor, while unpleasant, is less objectionable than related thiols.