What is in 70 rubbing alcohol?

Are you tired of rubbing your alcoholic beverages on yourself only to find out that it doesn’t have any benefits? Look no further because we have the answer! In this article, we will be diving into what exactly is in 70 rubbing alcohol and how it works.

Let’s start with the basics

Rubbing alcohol is an antiseptic solution commonly used for cleaning wounds or disinfecting surfaces. It consists of a mixture of water and either ethyl or isopropyl alcohol, also known as ethanol and IPA respectively.

Fun fact: Ethanol is actually the same type of alcohol found in beer, wine, and spirits. So next time you’re trying to clean up a wound, consider pouring some whiskey on it (Disclaimer: Please don’t actually do this).

The different variations

Rubbing alcohol can come in various strengths usually ranging from 50% to 99%. For home use, most people typically reach for the standard strength which is around 70%.

However if you want to get fancy with your cleaning solutions or hand-sanitizers then there are higher percentages available too. Just keep in mind that these stronger arrangements are more flammable than their weaker counterparts so please do not set them alight.

We take no responsibility for any damage caused by anyone setting themselves ablaze while reading this article

How does it work?

The initial thought might be that when rubbed onto an infected area/cut/injury/ etc., essential oils would pour forth from within like blood pouring forth profusely from wounded soldiers during World War II who had bad-ass field medics carrying morphine syrettes (a single complete dose) . But unfortunately life isn’t a movie from Hollywood; instead they kill bacteria through rapid dehydration by dissolving lipids making cell membranes unstable – killing germs dead!

Here’s some real science for you non-believers. Alcohol molecules attach to cell membranes of bacterial cells causing them to destabilize, therefore breaking the walls and ultimately leading to their demise.

How does it compare?

Compared with other antiseptic solutions like hydrogen peroxide or iodine, rubbing alcohol is said to be less effective at killing certain bacteria such as C. diff (Clostridium difficile).

However compared with commercial cleaning sprays, it’s usually cheaper and more cost-effective in terms of usage so…#TeamRubbingAlcohol

Please note: C.diff can cause very nasty things so we highly recommend you avoid this germ in all forms

Isopropyl versus Ethyl

As previously mentioned one type of solution uses isopropyl alcohol while the other uses ethanol.

The major difference between these two alcohols when used for disinfecting purposes seems primarily based on ease-of-accessibility rather than effectiveness; some people prefer Isopropanol because its smell – which by virtue isn’t that great- dissolves quicker than ethyl varieties making clean up time feel just that bit shorter! However others dislike the synthetic odour my friend reminds me eloquently: “It smells like a shitty nightclub”. We take no responsibility for any grievances caused since this varies based on personal opinions.

To put into context, IPA actually has higher levels of toxic potency compared with Ethanol but only significantly minimised chances are seen from prolonged contact or use into user health causes such as nausea.

Note: Just use appropriately)

What not to do

So now you know what rubbing alcohol is and how it works; here’s some advice:

  1. Don’t drink it – despite our recent discovery they both contain ethanol – this stuff that’s involved in wicked parties- Drinking either variants’ could lead to a hospital visit due prompt vomiting.
  2. Do not use for medicinal purposes without professional guidance – Rubbing alcohol can have harmful effects if it is ingested or applied excessively. We do not recommend trying to perform an appendectomy on yourself using rubbing alcohol as your only tool – this WILL NOT work!!
  3. Do not get too close to flames – Both types of rubbing alcohol are flammable so keep them away from open flames.

To conclude, 70 rubbing alcohol is a popular cleaning solution used for disinfecting surfaces and treating minor cuts/wounds etc.; the key ingredients include either ethanol or IPA mixed with water, with additional color options available which could make things more exciting when you’re feeling bored! Just remember; DO NOT DRINK IT!

We promise we’re taking no liability when Stacey decides to down a bottle of Dettol in Tesco’s.

Reference

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