Isopropyl Alcohol
Alexis Bell
Figure 1. Isopropyl
Alcohol Ignition.
Source: Fire in a Bottle https://www.flickr.com/photos/newt0/626102341/in/photolist-XjWpX-m3LJrD-b7Fv4c-4hgvDU-ojqKVr-9janwm-6WZ2mF-9HPma-6V9shs-rgA6zw-akdnWH-RD9r8Q-95BhiH-7m3QUz-6RucQD-95BihD-vUPe-Ky1AG-daeYZi-7ya85K-j9stjQ-cmhygs-bGbTbD-Ky1CL-dQ3Fui-5kZV-9XMXEM-GtiJD-52kRLn-rdU3FC-9BNBVi-RLfCKj-6vEHfM-AeR33-SJfVKM-RD9rbL-SJfUMz-SJfVFZ-RD9rao-SJfVHx-HgsUe5-UkB7hf-wnVm3H-vHoSWw-bE1vtu-akdnbZ-5hf5Jp-Xpo8y-9XQPTu-57xhw5 by Vogel, A. is licensed under CC BY 2.0. (accessed December 6, 2018).
Isopropyl
alcohol, or “isopropanol,” is a chemical with a characteristic odor and colourless
appearance, and is the active ingredient in (most) rubbing alcohols.1
Despite the unsettling odor of this compound, it has many uses besides rubbing
alcohol, including: denaturant, anti-freeze, preservative, and even food
flavouring.1 It is also used to produce acetone, a chemical that is
the main ingredient in most nail polish removers.1
Isopropanol
is so common in household products, that it can be found in various products
for personal care (cosmetics, soaps), cleaning (glass cleaners), and interior
design (paints, varnishes).1 This wide use is due to isopropanol’s versatility
as a solvent. Unlike water, isopropanol can dissolve non-polar molecules, like
oil.2 This means it can reliably clean oil traces from surfaces, as
well as dissolve non-polar compounds in various products.2 This is because
it has both non-polar (isopropyl) and polar (hydroxyl) groups present.1
This just means that it can dissolve polar and non-polar compounds, because the
overall polarity is better balanced than in other solvents. Basically, it is a “happy
medium” of alcohol solvents.
Isopropanol is a relatively safe chemical, but like most
alcohols, it is flammable.3 Not only is isopropyl alcohol flammable,
but it also is heavier than air in gaseous state.1 Therefore, it can
sink below air, which means it can be ignited from a distant source.1
This is because it can spread more quickly below air (and without disruption
from wind), so the spark has more potential to ignite a fire.1 It is
also explosive in air.1
Despite
the flammability risk of isopropanol, it is relatively non-toxic. It is less
toxic than methanol, another commonly used organic solvent.2 It is
also one of the least toxic options in biological specimen preservation.2
Formaldehyde and other synthetic compounds are common in the biology
laboratory, and can cause various negative health effects.2
Isopropanol is a safer alternative to these chemicals.2 It is also unclassified
as a cancer or reproductive risk, however, it can cause Fetal Alcohol Spectrum
Disorder when ingested by expectant mothers.1
Perhaps the
widest known use of isopropanol is that it acts as an antimicrobial, antiseptic,
and disinfectant.2 This means it can effectively clean microbes and bacteria
from inanimate (non-living) and animate (living) surfaces.3 This is
the most common use of rubbing alcohol. Rubbing alcohol can be used to
disinfect or reduce bacteria on household surfaces, personal care items, and
surface wounds.3 However, rubbing alcohol cannot sterilize items
(eradicate disease-causing agents) and is ineffective against resistant strains
of bacteria and viruses.3
Figure 2. Isopropyl Alcohol and Mesoft Swabs.
Source:
Isopropanol and Mesoft Swabs. https://www.flickr.com/photos/maraker/14157327478/in/photolist-Xn1Lax-8mQSuu-bNknmF-hXGFNc-nz31e5-nPC9f1-dBGiHt-MvKxmo-akkLqt-akkLik-UkYLT5-3S5WZ-51qygA by
Overall,
isopropyl alcohol is a relatively safe compound, with many beneficial uses in
household products, medicine, and manufacturing. When used cautiously, it poses
little risk to consumer health, while preventing additional risks from alternatives
with higher toxicity.
References
1Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. 2-Propanol,
2008, CHEMINFO.
26, 2018).
28, 2018).
3University of Kentucky Biological Safety.
Laboratory Disinfectants.
2018).
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