Things to Know About Rubbing Alcohol (2024)

FAQs

Things to Know About Rubbing Alcohol? ›

Even though you may think the higher concentration is more effective, experts say 70% is actually better for disinfecting. It has more water, which helps it to dissolve more slowly, penetrate cells, and kill bacteria. The disinfecting power of rubbing alcohol drops at concentrations higher than 80%-85%.

Rubbing alcohol is a natural bactericidal treatment. This means it kills bacteria but doesn't necessarily prevent their growth. Rubbing alcohol can also kill fungus and viruses. However, it's important a person uses a rubbing alcohol concentration of no less than a 50 percent solution.

Isopropyl Alcohol Safety Concerns

As an alcohol, it is highly flammable in the presence of heat, sparks, or an open flame. When handling isopropyl alcohol in a work environment (to best to avoid any contact with skin) protective clothing should be always be worn, including safety gloves and goggles.

It is a mixture of denatured alcohol, water, and agents added to make the alcohol unpalatable to drink. It may also include colorants. There are two common types of rubbing alcohol: Isopropyl alcohol.

Ingesting or inhaling rubbing alcohol can quickly lead to alcohol poisoning—even death. There are three types of alcohol classified by chemists: isopropyl, methyl and ethyl alcohol. Most types of rubbing alcohol are made from isopropyl alcohol, with concentrations of 68-99 percent alcohol in water.

Cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces

Rubbing alcohol can help clean and disinfect hard surfaces. It is effective against most, but not all, pathogens. The main ingredient in rubbing alcohol is isopropyl alcohol (IA).

Finished surfaces: Since the ethanol in it is a solvent, rubbing alcohol can liquify varnishes or finishes, doing major damage to your furniture or other surfaces in your home. Avoid rubbing alcohol on painted, shellacked, lacquered, or varnished surfaces, including treated wood.

Rubbing alcohol is a highly flammable substance, so you should never use it to clean flammable surfaces, or areas that are exposed to open flames (such as a fireplace). It's also a smart idea to steer clear of surfaces that routinely get hot.

Isopropyl alcohol is pure alcohol and is a colorless liquid with a musty, sharp odor. There are no other ingredients in a bottle of isopropyl alcohol. By contrast, rubbing alcohol contains isopropyl alcohol among other ingredients, such as water. Most rubbing alcohol brands contain 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Like most alcohols, isopropyl alcohol reacts with active metals such as potassium to form alkoxides that are called isopropoxides. With titanium tetrachloride, isopropyl alcohol reacts to give titanium isopropoxide: TiCl ₄ + 4 (CH ₃) ₂CHOH → Ti(OCH(CH ₃) ₂) ₄ + 4 HCl.

What is 90% rubbing alcohol used for? ›

Isopropyl alcohol, particularly in solutions between 60% and 90% alcohol with 10 – 40% purified water, is rapidly antimicrobial against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Once alcohol concentrations drop below 50%, usefulness for disinfection drops sharply.

Ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol are commonly used as disinfectants and antiseptics. Both alcohols are effective at killing germs when used in concentrations over 60 percent, but there's some evidence that ethyl alcohol is less damaging to your skin.

Rubbing alcohol has a shelf life of 2 to 3 years. After that, the alcohol starts to evaporate, and it may not be as effective at killing germs and bacteria. To be safe, it's best to use rubbing alcohol that hasn't expired.

Don't use aerosols, acid, rubbing alcohol, harsh chemicals or cleaners containing chlorine.

You can buy rubbing alcohol with a concentration of 70% or 99% isopropyl alcohol. Even though you may think the higher concentration is more effective, experts say 70% is actually better for disinfecting. It has more water, which helps it to dissolve more slowly, penetrate cells, and kill bacteria.

A: Isopropyl alcohol can be purified to about 70% by distillation. Anything purer needs to be separated by more expensive means, and so costs more.

IPA kills bacteria by damaging the cell wall of an organism. Water plays a crucial role in catalyzing this reaction and denatures the proteins of vegetative cell membranes — both water and alcohol work into the microorganism, causing its walls to burst and dissolve quickly.

Generally, it is stated that ethanol is absorbed by human skin in a quantity described as "toxicologically negligible".

The only downside of 99% isopropyl alcohol is that, understandably, it needs to be used and stored properly. In this concentration, it is highly flammable, may cause dizziness if used in high quantities in an ill-ventilated area, and can be an irritant to skin and eyes. Of course, it should also never be ingested.

People should not apply isopropyl alcohol to the skin for any reason, as it can pass into the bloodstream and cause poisoning. Rubbing alcohol is better for use in first aid and to sterilize small objects or surfaces.