Ethanolamine is commonly called monoethanolamine or MEA in order to be distinguished from diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA). It is used as feedstock in the production of detergents, emulsifiers, polishes, pharmaceuticals, corrosion inhibitors, and chemical intermediates.
Ethanolamine is an organic chemical compound that is both a primary amine and a primary alcohol. Since ethanolamine is one of the amine compounds, then ethanolamine acts as a weak base.