Guanidine carbonate is an alkaline, organic salt with the chemical formula NH2C(=NH)NH2 · ½H2CO3. It's a white powder with various industrial and cosmetic applications. Here's a breakdown of its key characteristics:
Properties:
- Form: White powder
- Solubility: Highly soluble in water
- pH: Alkaline (around 11.7 in water solution)
- Melting point: 231°C
Uses:
- Hair straightening: One of the primary uses of guanidine carbonate is in hair relaxers. It breaks down the disulfide bonds in hair, causing it to straighten. However, due to its potential for scalp irritation, it's being replaced by gentler alternatives in some formulations.
- Depilatory agent: In some depilatory creams, guanidine carbonate helps dissolve hair for temporary hair removal.
- pH adjustment and buffering: Its alkaline nature makes it useful for adjusting and maintaining pH levels in various industrial processes and cosmetics.
