Glycine CAS#56-40-6
Smallest and Simplest Amino Acid Structure: Glycine has the smallest molecular size among all proteinogenic amino acids, allowing it to fit easily into tight spaces within protein structures and contribute to molecular flexibility.
Excellent Compatibility with Diverse Environments: Due to its minimal side chain consisting of only one hydrogen atom, glycine can adapt well to both hydrophilic and hydrophobic environments, enhancing its versatility in biological and industrial applications.
Non-Chiral and Structurally Unique: Unlike most amino acids, glycine is not chiral, giving it distinctive chemical and biological behavior that is valuable in protein synthesis and formulation stability.
High Purity, Mild Taste, and Broad Applicability: As a colorless, sweet-tasting crystalline solid, glycine is suitable for use in food, pharmaceutical, and biochemical applications where purity, safety, and neutral sensory properties are important.
Glycine CAS#56-40-6
Glycine, abbreviated as Gly or G, is an organic compound with the molecular formula NH₂CH₂COOH. Because its side chain consists of only a single hydrogen atom, it is the smallest amino acid among the 20 commonly occurring protein-forming amino acids. In the genetic code, glycine is encoded by the codons GGU, GGC, GGA, and GGG.
Glycine appears as a colorless, sweet-tasting crystalline solid. It is distinctive among proteinogenic amino acids in that it is non-chiral. Owing to its minimal side chain, glycine can readily exist in both hydrophilic and hydrophobic environments. In addition, Glycine is also the genus name of the soybean plant, with Glycine max as the species designation.
Glycine Chemical Properties
| Melting point | 240 °C (dec.) (lit.) |
| Boiling point | 233°C |
| bulk density | 920kg/m3 |
| density | 1.595 |
| vapor pressure | 0.0000171 Pa (25 °C) |
| refractive index | 1.4264 (estimate) |
| FEMA | 3287 | GLYCINE |
| Fp | 176.67°C |
| storage temp. | 2-8°C |
| solubility | H2O: 100 mg/mL |
| pka | 2.35(at 25℃) |
| form | powder |
| color | <5 (200 mg/mL)(APHA) |
| PH | 4(0.2 molar aqueous solution) |
| PH Range | 4 |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Odor Type | odorless |
| biological source | synthetic |
| Water Solubility | 25 g/100 mL (25 ºC) |
| λmax | λ: 260 nm Amax: 0.05 |
| λ: 280 nm Amax: 0.05 | |
| Merck | 144,491 |
| JECFA Number | 1421 |
| BRN | 635782 |
| Stability: | Stable. Combustible. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. |
| Cosmetics Ingredients Functions | ANTISTATIC |
| BUFFERING | |
| SKIN CONDITIONING | |
| HAIR CONDITIONING | |
| InChIKey | DHMQDGOQFOQNFH-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
| LogP | -3.21 |
| CAS DataBase Reference | 56-40-6(CAS DataBase Reference) |
| NIST Chemistry Reference | Glycine(56-40-6) |
| EPA Substance Registry System | Glycine (56-40-6) |
| Absorption | ≤0.15 at 280 at 1M |
| CAS Number Unlabeled | 73-32-5 |
Safety Information
| Risk Statements | 33 |
| Safety Statements | 22-24/25 |
| WGK Germany | 2 |
| RTECS | MB7600000 |
| TSCA | Yes |
| HS Code | 29224910 |
| Hazardous Substances Data | 56-40-6(Hazardous Substances Data) |
| Toxicity | LD50 orally in Rabbit: 7930 mg/kg |
Product Application of Glycine CAS#56-40-6
In the United States, glycine is generally marketed in two main grades: United States Pharmacopeia (USP) grade and technical grade. The majority of glycine production is dedicated to USP-grade material, which is used across a wide range of applications. Sales of USP-grade glycine represent roughly 80–85% of the total U.S. glycine market.
Pharmaceutical-grade glycine is manufactured specifically for certain medical uses, such as intravenous formulations, where purity standards often surpass the minimum requirements of USP specifications. This grade is typically produced according to proprietary quality criteria and is sold at a higher price compared with standard USP-grade glycine.



