Editing Choline (section)

==Chemistry==
Choline is a [[quaternary ammonium cation]]. The cholines are a family of water-soluble [[quaternary ammonium compound]]s.<ref name=lpi/> Choline is the parent compound of the cholines class, consisting of [[ethanolamine]] residue having three [[methyl]] groups attached to the same [[nitrogen]] atom.<ref name="pubchem" /><ref name=lpi/> [[Choline hydroxide]] is known as choline base. It is [[hygroscopic]] and thus often encountered as a colorless [[viscous]] hydrated syrup that smells of [[trimethylamine]] (TMA). Aqueous solutions of choline are stable, but the compound slowly breaks down to [[ethylene glycol]], [[polyethylene glycol]]s, and TMA.<ref name="lpi"/>

Choline chloride can be prepared by treating TMA with [[2-chloroethanol]]:<ref name="lpi"/>

:{{chem2|(CH3)3N + ClCH2CH2OH → [(CH3)3NCH2CH2OH]+Cl–}}
Choline has historically been produced from natural sources, such as via [[hydrolysis]] of [[lecithin]].<ref name="lpi"/>