Hydroquinone is used as a reducing agent and finds applications in black and white photographic developers for film and paper along with 4-(methylamino)phenol sulfate (metol). In this application, silver halides are reduced to elemental silver. It acts as a polymerization inhibitor which prevents polymerization of acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, cyanoacrylate and other monomers. It undergoes mild oxidation to convert into parabenzoquinone. It is also used as an intermediate to produce antioxidants for rubber and food.
This Thermo Scientific Chemicals brand product was originally part of the Alfa Aesar product portfolio. Some documentation and label information may refer to the legacy brand. The original Alfa Aesar product / item code or SKU reference has not changed as a part of the brand transition to Thermo Scientific Chemicals.
ApplicationsHydroquinone is used as a reducing agent and finds applications in black and white photographic developers for film and paper along with 4-(methylamino)phenol sulfate (metol). In this application, silver halides are reduced to elemental silver. It acts as a polymerization inhibitor which prevents polymerization of acrylic acid, methyl methacrylate, cyanoacrylate and other monomers. It undergoes mild oxidation to convert into parabenzoquinone. It is also used as an intermediate to produce antioxidants for rubber and food.
SolubilitySoluble in water, methanol, ethanol, diethyl ether, acetone, benzene and carbon tetrachloride.
NotesAir and light sensitive. Incompatible with strong bases and strong oxidizing agents.