| Synonym(s): |
Polyethylene glycol sorbitan monolaurate; Polyoxyethylenesorbitan monolaurate |
| Description: |
Tween 20 is a polyoxyethylene sorbitol ester, a member of the polysorbate family. This nonionic detergent has a molecular weight of 1,225 daltons, comprising 20 ethylene oxide units, one sorbitol molecule, and one lauric acid as its primary fatty acid. The ethylene oxide subunits confer hydrophilicity to the surfactant, while the hydrocarbon chains contribute to its hydrophobic characteristics. The sorbitol forms the backbone ring to which the ethylene oxide polymers are attached. |
| Application: |
Tween 20 is widely used in several biochemical applications. It has been used:
As an emulsifying agent for the preparation of stable oil-in-water emulsions.
In pre-extraction of membranes to remove peripheral proteins (used at 2% for extraction of membrane-bound proteins).
As a blocking agent for membrane based immunoassays at a typical concentration of 0.05% - 1%.
For lysing mammalian cells at a concentration of 0.005 to 0.5%.
For rehydrating tissue before in situ hybridization. |
| Biochem/Physiol Actions: |
Tween 20, functioning as a detergent, potentially operates by binding to the hydrophobic components of water-insoluble substances, thereby making them hydrophilic. |
| Features and Benefits: |
Suitable for protein purification and DNA and RNA extraction.
Suitable for mammalian cell culture.
High purity product for research applications. |
| Quality Level: |
200 |
| Form: |
Viscous liquid |
| Refractive Index: |
n20/D 1.468 (lit.)
n20/D 1.471 |
| Density: |
1.11 g/mL at 20°C
1.095 g/mL at 25°C (lit.) |
| Viscosity: |
250-450 mPa.s(25°C) |
| HLB Value: |
16.7±1.0 |
| Storage Class Code: |
10 - Combustible liquids |
| CAS Number: |
9005-64-5 |
| Molecular Weight: |
~1228 |
| MDL Number: |
MFCD00165986 |
| SMILES String: |
CCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OCCOCC(C1C(C(CO1)OCCO)OCCO)OCCO |
| InChI: |
1S/C26H50O10/c1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-24(30)34-19-18-31-20-22(32-15-12-27)26-25(35-17-14-29)23(21-36-26)33-16-13-28/h22-23,25-29H,2-21H2,1H3 |
| InChI key: |
HMFKFHLTUCJZJO-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
