Polyethylene Glycol 400

PEG 400 is a low-molecular-weight grade of polyethylene glycol, also known as polyethylene glycol 400.

PEG (polyethylene glycol) is a polyether compound formed by polymerization of ethylene oxide. The general chemical formula for PEG is H(OCH2CH2) nOH, where n is the quantity of ethylene glycol units that make up a mole of the polymer.

The molecular weight then determines the properties of each type or category of PEG. Low-molecular-weight PEGs such as PEG 200–600 consist of a distribution of ethylene glycol repeating units, with PEG 400 averaging about 8–9 units.

What is Polyethylene Glycol 400?

In research contexts, Polyethylene Glycol 400 (PEG 400) is a low-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol polymer used mainly as a solvent, excipient, or chemical reagent in laboratory experiments.

Potential Applications of PEG 400

PEG 400 is a solvent, plasticizer, and surfactant used in laboratory research to reduce water’s surface tension. Here are some of the other potential applications of the compound:

Might used as a co-solvent in analytical chemistry and sample preparation
Medium in chemical synthesis reactions
Viscosity modifier in laboratory formulations
Control substance in pharmacological and toxicological research

In research settings, PEG 400 is mainly used as a laboratory solvent and formulation vehicle to help dissolve experimental compounds.

How does PEG-400 work?

Polyethylene Glycol 400 (PEG-400) works primarily as a hydrophilic cosolvent and solubilizing agent. Its chemical structure contains repeating ether groups (–O–CH₂–CH₂–).

These ether oxygen atoms can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules and polar functional groups of solutes. Whereas the hydrocarbon segments interact weakly with non-polar regions of compounds.

This dual interaction reduces intermolecular forces between poorly soluble molecules and disperses them within the solvent system. Thus, it increases the apparent solubility and stability of hydrophobic compounds in aqueous media.

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