Definition

A type of alcohol that has two hydroxyl groups in its chemical structure, commonly used in antifreeze and as a solvent.

Example

Ethylene glycol is often used in car antifreeze to lower the freezing point of the coolant.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of glycol being used in antifreeze?

Yeah, I think it's ethylene glycol that they use for that.

Exactly! It's interesting how it works to lower the freezing point.

Totally! Science can be really fascinating sometimes.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Glycol** → It is formed from "glyc-" (from Greek "glykys", meaning sweet) and "-ol" (a suffix used in chemistry to denote alcohols). The word "glycol" refers to a sweet-tasting alcohol compound, specifically a type of diol (two alcohol groups).

Memory Tip

Think of the Greek word for sweet, 'glykys', to remember that glycol is a sweet-tasting alcohol.

Visually Confused Words