Dimethyl sulfoxide

<p>Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is an <a href="/facts/Organosulfur_compound/sUxSSXwD">organosulfur compound</a> with the <a href="/facts/Chemical_formula/hghUtthl">formula</a> (<a href="/facts/Carbon/ukrgQexo">C</a><a href="/facts/Hydrogen/BoYHjl0J">H</a>3)2<a href="/facts/Sulfur/IK0amTfM">S</a>=<a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">O</a>. This colorless liquid is the <a href="/facts/Sulfoxide/Stk3Vnj9">sulfoxide</a> most widely used commercially. It is an important <a href="/facts/Polar_solvent/LoMPMz8S">polar</a> <a href="/facts/Aprotic_solvent/oSApp96e">aprotic solvent</a> that dissolves both <a href="/facts/Chemical_polarity/KlIJ0zjB">polar and nonpolar</a> compounds and is <a href="/facts/Miscible/HwQaolbQ">miscible</a> in a wide range of organic solvents as well as water. It has a relatively high boiling point. DMSO is metabolised to compounds that leave a <a href="/facts/Garlic/NschLR1S">garlic</a>-like taste in the mouth after DMSO is absorbed by skin.
</p><p>In terms of chemical structure, the molecule has idealized <a href="/facts/Molecular_symmetry/BrDxAkTK">Cs</a> <a href="/facts/Symmetry_group/CNqeseMp">symmetry</a>. It has a <a href="/facts/Trigonal_pyramidal_molecular_geometry/1hvdUNrp">trigonal pyramidal molecular geometry</a> consistent with other three-coordinate S(IV) compounds, with a <a href="/facts/Lone_pair/Q6kEAC4g">nonbonded electron pair</a> on the approximately <a href="/facts/Tetrahedral_molecular_geometry/583AL1sP">tetrahedral</a> sulfur atom.
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Dimethyl sulfoxide open-in-new

Dimethyl sulfoxide