Why is Antifreeze Delicious?

Question

Ethylene glycol makes antifreeze tasty & is excellent at lowering the freezing point of water in the engine. Though colorless and odorless, the syrupy alcohol derivative has a sweet taste that jibes well with soda, juice, and other sugary beverages. So why is it so tasty?

Many are concerned (pet owners and parents) that dogs, cats, and kids lap up puddles of antifreeze left on garage floors. Every year, 90,000 animals and 4,000 children ingest the toxic liquid; if not treated immediately, the consequences of the poisoning can include renal or cardiovascular failure, brain damage, & death.

For obvious reasons, there's been an uproar for safer, less "scrumptious" antifreeze. One solution in the development of antifreezes, includes one by SIERRA, replaces ethylene glycol with propylene glycol, a liquid that's nontoxic enough to be used as a sweetener in children's cough syrup. But propylene glycol costs significantly more than ethylene glycol.

So why does it have to taste sweet?

Answer 1

The reason ethylene glycol tastes sweet is because it reacts in the same way that sugar does on your taste buds. In fact they are similar in chemical shape. I.E. they both have the same functional groups in the chemical.

However commercially produced antifreeze should have a chemical bittering agent add to it. This is to produced a disgusting taste when drunk to prevent kids and pets from drinking a large amount of it.

Answer 2

by Fyre & Reign Member since:
December 18, 2007
Total points:
264 (Level 2) Excellent point. You'd think the lives would be more important than the price.

But, along the same lines, what's keeping antifreeze makers from adding something that tastes (and hopefully also smells) bad to the antifreeze? Who voluntarily drinks something that smells bad?

Part of the problem is that it's ONLY 90,000 animal and 4,000 children. Odds are that most people don't take animal deaths seriously. I'd be devastated if anything happened to my dog but, then again, I'd never dream of letting her near antifreeze.

The 4,000 children must come from lower income families, w here they're not that well educated, or you'd think their families would band together and get some new laws passed or apply pressure to have the manufacturers use a less toxic substance.

Look at laws like "Megan's Law," they get passed because the parent is smarter, better educated and motivated. If your parent is some low-income pothead, yes, they'll grieve because you drank the antifreeze and died but they may not think to make change to benefit other people's children. That requires a certain amount of altruism.

But good question.

Answer 3

Your question had me worried, Andy, until I read the details, LOL!!

Unfortunately, I don't think something less tasty is going to come real soon--due to the higher price--along with the higher price of gas.

Hopefully, a lot of people will read this, and make certain to keep antifreeze out of the reach of children and pets.

Answer 4

I agree this needs to be sorted - but why is the only option to change the basic type of antifreeze? Why couldn't a foul tasting chemical be added to the existing mix?

Answer 5

You have made an excellent observation, it was something I was completely unaware of. It make me think I should have asked a question for you to give this as an answer, so I could give it 10 points.

Answer 6

The best idea would be not to have it on sale and leave it to the garages to add it to radiators.

Answer 7

So you'll be sure to drink it. Helps keep your guts from freezing on these cold winter nights.

Answer 8

ugh huh!

Answer 9

Send me a double please.