Australia's Science Forum

Hi All,

Have been cleaning out our chemical store & have found two chemicals which none of our staff ever recall using. Has anybody have any idea what these may have been used for in the past? Chemicals are Mannitol and Kaolinum.

Hi hel,

Certainly an easy question, the first reagent, aims towards my research in Medicinal Chemistry as part of my PhD. Mannitol is a Diuretic and is what we commonly call a sugar alcohol it is a Polyalcohol, hexan-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexol. This is one for the Diabetics as this is also an artificial Sweetener for those people..

Its chemical structure is similar to Sorbitol..

And as far as Kaolinum goes, this is actually a Porcelain Clay powder, one thing to keep in mind though as this is quite absorbent.

I hope this has helped,

Cheers,
Robb.....

Thanks Rob,

So would they have used this in a prac in days gone by?

Helen

Hi, Hel,

Only to synthesize an artificial sweetener, but apart from that. Probably Not..

Cheers,

Robb.....

Hi Helen,
Our chem teachers use Kaolin when they do Fractional distillation of crude oil. Don't ask me what part it plays, but I know they get good results.
Cheers,
Lisa