Isopropyl alcohol (also
propan-2-ol,
2-propanol,
iso,
isopro,
isoprop,
rubbing alcoholRubbing alcohol, USP / B.P. is a liquid prepared and used primarily for topical application. It is prepared from a special denatured alcohol solution and contains 97.5-100% by volume of pure, concentrated ethanol . Individual manufacturers can use their own "formulation standards" in which the...
, or the abbreviation
IPA) is a common name for a colorless, flammable
chemical compoundA chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
with a strong
odorAn odor or odour is caused by one or more volatilized chemical compounds, generally at a very low concentration, that humans or other animals perceive by the sense of olfaction. Odors are also called smells, which can refer to both pleasant and unpleasant odors...
. It has the molecular formula C
3H
7OH and is the simplest example of a
secondary alcohol, where the
alcoholIn chemistry, an alcohol is any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group is bound to a carbon atom of an alkyl or substituted alkyl group. An important group of acohols is formed by the simple acyclic alcohols, the general formula for which is C
nH
2n+1OH...
carbon is attached to two other carbons. It is an
isomerIn chemistry, isomers are compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural formulas. The word is derived from the Greek ισομερης, isomerès; isos = "equal", méros = "part"....
of
propanolPropan-1-ol is a primary alcohol with the Molecular formula of C3H8O. It is also known as 1-propanol, 1-propyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, or simply propanol. It is an isomer of propan-2-ol. It is used as a solvent in the pharmaceutical industry, and for resins and...
. The name "isopropanol" is sometimes used but this is, strictly speaking, incorrect as it uses elements from two scientific naming conventions.
Production
Isopropyl alcohol is produced by combining water and propene. There are two processes for achieving this: indirect
hydrationIn organic chemistry, a hydration reaction is a chemical reaction in which a hydroxyl group and a hydrogen cation are added to the two carbon atoms bonded together in the carbon-carbon double bond which makes up an alkene functional group. The reaction usually runs in a strong acidic, aqueous...
via the sulfuric acid process and direct hydration. The former process, which can use low-quality propylene, predominates in the USA while the latter process, which requires high-purity propylene, is more commonly used in Europe. These processes give predominantly isopropyl alcohol rather than 1-propanol because the addition of water or
sulfuric acidSulfuric acid, , is a strong mineral acid. It is soluble in water at all concentrations. Sulfuric acid has many applications, and is one of the top products of the chemical industry. World production in 2001 was 165 million tonnes, with an approximate value of US$8 billion...
to propylene follows
Markovnikov's ruleIn organic chemistry, Markovnikov's rule or Markownikoff's rule is an observation based on Zaitsev's rule. It was formulated by the Russian chemist Vladimir Vasilevich Markovnikov in 1870...
.
The indirect process reacts propylene with sulfuric acid to form a mixture of sulfate esters. Subsequent
hydrolysisHydrolysis is a chemical reaction during which one or more water molecules are split into hydrogen and hydroxide ions, which may go on to participate in further reactions. It is the type of reaction that is used to break down certain polymers, especially those made by step-growth polymerization...
of these esters produces isopropyl alcohol. Direct hydration reacts propylene and water, either in gas or liquid phases, at high pressures in the presence of solid or supported acidic catalysts. Both processes require that the isopropyl alcohol be separated from water and other by-products by
distillationDistillation is a method of separating mixtures based on differences in their volatilities in a boiling liquid mixture. Distillation is a unit operation, or a physical separation process, and not a chemical reaction....
. Isopropyl alcohol and water form an
azeotropeAn azeotrope is a mixture of two or more liquids in such a ratio that its composition cannot be changed by simple distillation...
and simple distillation gives a material which is 87.9% by weight isopropyl alcohol and 12.1% by weight water. Pure (anhydrous) isopropyl alcohol is made by
azeotropic distillationIn chemistry, azeotropic distillation is any of a range of techniques used to break an azeotrope in distillation. In chemical engineering, azeotropic distillation usually refers to the specific technique of adding another component to generate a new, lower-boiling azeotrope that is heterogeneous...
of the "wet" isopropyl alcohol using either
diisopropyl etherDiisopropyl ether is secondary ether that is used as a solvent. It is a colorless liquid that is slightly soluble in water, but miscible with most organic solvents...
or
cyclohexaneCyclohexane is a cycloalkane with the molecular formula C
6H
12. Cyclohexane is used as a nonpolar solvent for the chemical industry, and also as a raw material for the industrial production of adipic acid and caprolactam, both of which are intermediates used in the production...
as azeotroping agents.
Uses
Isopropyl alcohol is cheaply available. Like
acetoneAcetone is the organic compound with the formula OC2. This colorless, mobile, flammable liquid is the simplest example of the ketones. Owing to the fact that acetone is miscible with water it serves as an important solvent in its own right, typically as the solvent of choice for...
, it dissolves a wide range of nonpolar compounds. It is also relatively non-toxic and dries (evaporates) quickly. Thus it is used widely as a solvent and as a cleaning fluid, especially for dissolving
lipophilicLipophilicity, , refers to the ability of a chemical compound to dissolve in fats, oils, lipids, and non-polar solvents such as hexane or toluene. These non-polar solvents are themselves lipophilic — the axiom that like dissolves like generally holds true...
contaminants such as oil. Examples of this use include cleaning
electronicElectronics is a branch of science and technology that deals with the controlled flow of electrons. The ability to control electron flow is usually applied to information handling or device control. Electronics is distinct from electrical science and technology, which deals with the generation,...
devices such as contact pins (like those on
ROMRead-only memory is a class of storage media used in computers and other electronic devices. Because data stored in ROM cannot be modified , it is mainly used to distribute firmware .In its strictest sense, ROM...
cartridges),
magnetic tapeMagnetic tape is a medium for magnetic recording generally consisting of a thin magnetizable coating on a long and narrow strip of plastic. Nearly all recording tape is of this type, whether used for recording audio or video or for computer data storage. It was originally developed in Germany,...
and disk heads (such as those in audio and video tape recorders and
floppy diskA floppy disk is a data storage medium that is composed of a disk of thin, flexible magnetic storage medium encased in a square or rectangular plastic shell. Floppy disks are read and written by a floppy disk drive or FDD, the initials of which should not be confused with "fixed disk drive," which...
drives), the lenses of
laserA laser is a device that emits light through a process called stimulated emission. Laser light is usually spatially coherent, which means that the light either is emitted in a narrow, low-divergence beam, or can be converted into one with the help of optical components such as lenses...
s in
optical discIn computing and optical recording, an optical disc or optical disk is a flat, usually circular, disc which can contain audio, video or data encoded in microscopic pits on a special material on one of its flat surfaces...
drives (e.g. CD,
DVDDVD, also known as Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc,is an optical disc storage media format, and was founded in 1995. Its main uses are video and data storage...
) and removing thermal paste from
ICIC or ic may stand for:In computing and technology:*.ic.gov is a second-level domain name administered by the US Government for members of the intelligence community*Integrated circuit*initial condition...
packages (such as
CPUsThe Central Processing Unit or processor is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, and is the primary element carrying out the computer's functions. This term has been in use in the computer industry at least since the early 1960s...
.) It is also used to clean
LCDA liquid crystal display is a thin, flat panel used for electronically displaying information such as text, images, and moving pictures...
and glass computer monitor screens (at some risk to the anti-reflection coating of some screens), and used by many music shops to give second-hand or worn
recordsA gramophone record, commonly known as phonograph record, vinyl record, or simply record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed modulated spiral groove usually starting near the periphery and ending near the centre of the disc...
newer-looking sheens (though it may leach
plasticizerPlasticizers or dispersants are additives that increase the plasticity or fluidity of the material to which they are added, these include plastics, cement, concrete, wallboard, and clay. Although the same compounds are often used for both plastics and concretes the desired effect is slightly...
from
vinylA vinyl compound is any organic compound that contains a vinyl group , −CH=CH2. These are derivatives of ethene, CH2=CH2, with one hydrogen atom replaced with some other group...
, making it more rigid). Pure isopropyl alcohol should not be used to clean vinyl records. Isopropyl alcohol also works well at removing smudges, dirt, and fingerprints from cell phones and
PDA-Science and technology :* Personal digital assistant, an electronic device which can include some of the functions of a computer, a cellphone, a music player, and a camera* Patent ductus arteriosus, a heart defect* photodiode array, a type of detector...
s. It is effective at removing residual glue from some sticky labels (but some other adhesives used on tapes and paper labels are resistant to it.) It can also be used to remove stains from most fabrics, wood, cotton, etc. Isopropyl alcohol is also used to remove
brake fluidBrake fluid is a type of hydraulic fluid used in hydraulic brake applications in motorcycles, automobiles, light trucks, and some advanced bicycles. It is used to transfer force under pressure from where it is created through hydraulic lines to the braking mechanism near the wheels...
traces from hydraulic disk brake systems, so that the brake fluid (usually
DOT 3DOT 3 is one of several designations of automotive brake fluid, denoting a particular mixture of chemicals imparting specified ranges of boiling point....
,
DOT 4DOT 4 is one of several designations of automotive brake fluid, denoting a particular mixture of chemicals imparting specified ranges of boiling point....
or
mineral oilMineral oil or liquid petroleum is a by-product in the distillation of petroleum to produce gasoline and other petroleum based products from crude oil. It is a transparent, colorless oil composed mainly of alkanes and cyclic paraffins, related to petroleum jelly . It has a density of around 0.8...
) does not contaminate the
brake padsBrake pads are a component of disk brakes used in automotive and other applications. Brake pads are steel backing plates with friction material bound to the surface that faces the disk brake rotor.- Function :...
, which would result in poor braking. In addition it can also be used to clean paintballs or other oil based products so that they may be reused, commonly known as "repainting".
As a preservative (for biological specimens) isopropyl alcohol provides a cost-effective (when compared to pure
ethanolEthanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug, best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages and in modern thermometers. Ethanol is one of the oldest recreational drugs...
) and comparatively non-toxic alternative to
formaldehydeFormaldehyde is a chemical compound with the formula CH2O. It is the simplest aldehyde. Formaldehyde also exists as the cyclic trimer trioxane and the polymer paraformaldehyde. It exists in water as the hydrate H2C2. Aqueous solutions of formaldehyde are referred...
and other synthetic preservatives. When used for the preservation of specimens in solution concentrations of 90–99% are optimal, though concentrations as low as 70% can be used in emergencies.
SterilizingSterilization refers to any process that effectively kills or eliminates transmissible agents from a surface, equipment, article of food or medication, or biological culture medium. Sterilization does not, however, remove prions...
pads typically contain a 60–70%
solutionIn chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of two or more substances. In such a mixture, a solute is dissolved in another substance, known as a solvent. Gases may dissolve in liquids, for example, carbon dioxide or oxygen in water. Liquids may dissolve in other liquids. Gases can...
of isopropanol in water. Isopropyl alcohol is also commonly used as a
cleanerCleaner is the name of a German project specializing in electronic music. Formerly known as Cleen and Cleaner, Myer released several albums on the American industrial music record label, Metropolis Records, as well as the labels Zoth Ommog and Accession Records.-Members / History:Cleen began as a...
and
solventA solvent is a liquid, solid, or gas that dissolves another solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution.The most common solvent in everyday life is water. Most other commonly-used solvents are organic chemicals. These are called organic solvents...
in industry.
Isopropanol is a major ingredient in "gas dryer" fuel additives. In significant quantities,
waterWater is an ubiquitous chemical substance that is composed of hydrogen and oxygen and is essential for all known forms of life.In typical usage, water refers only to its liquid form or state, but the substance also has a solid state, ice, and a gaseous state, water vapor or steam. Water covers 71%...
is a problem in fuel tanks, as it separates from the gasoline, and can freeze in the supply lines at cold temperatures. The isopropanol does not remove the water from the gasoline; rather, the isopropanol solubilizes the water in the gasoline. Once soluble, the water does not pose the same risk as insoluble water as it will no longer accumulate in the supply lines and freeze. Isopropanol is often sold in aerosol cans as a
windscreenThe windshield or windscreen of an aircraft, automobile, bus, motorcycle, or tram is the front window. Modern windshields are generally made of laminated safety glass, a type of treated glass, which consists of two curved sheets of glass with a plastic layer laminated between them for safety, and...
de-icer.
Isopropanol is used as a water-drying aid for the prevention of
otitis externaOtitis externa is an inflammation of the outer ear and ear canal. Along with otitis media, external otitis is one of the two human conditions commonly called "earache". It also occurs in many other species. Inflammation of the skin of the ear canal is the essence of this disorder...
, better known as swimmer's ear.
Chemistry
Unlike
ethanolEthanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug, best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages and in modern thermometers. Ethanol is one of the oldest recreational drugs...
or
methanolMethanol, also known as methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits, is a chemical with formula CH3OH . It is toxic: drinking 10 ml will cause blindness, and as little as 100 ml will cause death...
, isopropanol can be separated from aqueous solutions by adding a salt such as
sodium chlorideSodium chloride, also known as salt, common salt, table salt, or halite, is an ionic compound with the formula NaCl. Sodium chloride is the salt most responsible for the salinity of the ocean and of the extracellular fluid of many multicellular organisms...
,
sodium sulfateSodium sulfate is the sodium salt of sulfuric acid. Anhydrous, it is a white crystalline solid of formula Na
2SO
4 known as the mineral thenardite; the decahydrate Na
2SO
4·10H
2O has been known as Glauber's salt or, historically, sal mirabilis...
, or any of several other inorganic salts, since the alcohol is much less soluble in saline solutions than in salt-free water The process is colloquially called
salting outSalting out is a method of separating proteins based on the principle that proteins are less soluble at high salt concentrations. The salt concentration needed for the protein to precipitate out of the solution differs from protein to protein. This process is also used to concentrate dilute...
, and causes concentrated isopropanol to separate into a distinct layer.
Being a secondary alcohol, isopropanol can be
oxidizedOrganic reductions or organic oxidations or organic redox reactions are redox reactions that take place with organic compounds. In organic chemistry oxidations and reductions are different from ordinary redox reactions because many reactions carry the name but do not actually involve electron...
to the corresponding
ketoneIn organic chemistry, a ketone is a type of compound that features a carbonyl group bonded to two other carbon atoms, i.e., R3CCO-CR3 where R can be a variety of atoms and groups of atoms...
acetoneAcetone is the organic compound with the formula OC2. This colorless, mobile, flammable liquid is the simplest example of the ketones. Owing to the fact that acetone is miscible with water it serves as an important solvent in its own right, typically as the solvent of choice for...
. This can be achieved using oxidizing agents such as
chromic acidChromic acid generally refers to a collection of compounds generated by the acidification of solutions containing chromate and dichromate anions or the dissolving of chromium trioxide in sulfuric acid. Often the species are assigned the formulas H2CrO4 and...
, or by
dehydrogenationDehydrogenation is a chemical reaction that involves the elimination of hydrogen . It is the reverse process of hydrogenation. Dehydrogenation reactions may be either large scale industrial processes or smaller scale laboratory procedures....
of isopropanol over a heated copper catalyst:
2CH-OH →
(CH3)2COAcetone is the organic compound with the formula OC2. This colorless, mobile, flammable liquid is the simplest example of the ketones. Owing to the fact that acetone is miscible with water it serves as an important solvent in its own right, typically as the solvent of choice for...
+
H2Hydrogen is the chemical element with atomic number 1. It is represented by the symbol H. At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen is a colorless, odorless, nonmetallic, tasteless, highly flammable diatomic gas with the molecular formula H
2...
Isopropanol may be converted to
2-Bromopropane2-Bromopropane, also known as isopropyl bromide and 2-propyl bromide, is the halogenated hydrocarbon with the formula CH3CHBrCH3. It is a colorless liquid. It is used for introducing the isopropyl functional group in organic synthesis...
using
phosphorus tribromidePhosphorus tribromide is a colourless liquid with the formula PBr
3. It fumes in air due to hydrolysis and has a penetrating odour. It is widely used in the laboratory for the conversion of alcohols to alkyl bromides.-Preparation:...
, or dehydrated to
propylenePropene, also known as propylene, is an unsaturated organic compound having the chemical formula C3H6. It has one double bond, and is the second simplest member of the alkene class of hydrocarbons, and it is also second in natural abundance.-Properties:At room temperature,...
by heating with
sulfuric acidSulfuric acid, , is a strong mineral acid. It is soluble in water at all concentrations. Sulfuric acid has many applications, and is one of the top products of the chemical industry. World production in 2001 was 165 million tonnes, with an approximate value of US$8 billion...
.
Isopropanol is often used as a
hydrideHydride is the name given to the negative ion of hydrogen, H−. Practically, the term hydride has two distinct but overlapping meanings. In the chemical vernacular the term hydride refers to a hydrogen atom that formally reacts as a hydrogen anion under common conditions as well as...
source in the
Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley reductionThe Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verley Reduction in organic chemistry is the reduction of ketones to secondary alcohols with aluminumisopropylate catalysis in isopropanol solution ....
.
Like most alcohols, isopropyl alcohol reacts with active
metalA metal is a chemical element that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat, forms cations and ionic bonds with non-metals. In chemistry, a metal is an element, compound, or alloy characterized by high electrical conductivity. In a metal, atoms readily lose electrons to form positive ions...
s such as
potassiumPotassium is the chemical element with the symbol K , atomic number 19, and atomic mass 39.0983. Potassium was first isolated from potash...
to form
alkoxideAn alkoxide is the conjugate base of an alcohol and therefore consists of an organic group bonded to a negatively charged oxygen atom. They can be written as RO–, where R is the organic substituent. Alkoxides are strong bases and, when R is not bulky, good nucleophiles and good...
s which can be called
isopropoxides. The reaction with
aluminiumAluminium or aluminum is a silvery white and ductile member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al; its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
(initiated by a trace of
mercuryMercury , also called quicksilver or hydrargyrum , is a chemical element with the symbol Hg and atomic number 80...
) is used to prepare the catalyst
aluminium isopropoxideAluminium isopropoxide is the chemical compound usually described with the formula Al
3, where i-Pr is the isopropyl group . This colourless solid is a useful reagent in organic synthesis...
.
Isopropanol has a maximum
absorbanceIn spectroscopy, the absorbance A is defined as,where is the intensity of light at a specified wavelength λ that has passed through a sample and is the intensity of the light before it enters the sample or incident light intensity...
at 204 nm in an
ultraviolet-visibleUltraviolet-visible spectroscopy or ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry involves the spectroscopy of photons in the UV-visible region. This means it uses light in the visible and adjacent ranges. The absorption in the visible ranges directly affects the color of the chemicals involved...
spectrum.
Safety
Isopropyl alcohol vapor is more dense than air and is highly flammable with a very wide combustible range. It should be kept away from heat and open flame. When mixed with air or other oxidizers it can explode through
deflagrationDeflagration is a technical term describing subsonic combustion that usually propagates through thermal conductivity . Most "fire" found in daily life, from flames to explosions, is technically deflagration...
. Isopropyl alcohol has also been reported to form explosive
peroxidesOrganic peroxides are organic compounds containing the peroxide functional group . If the R' is hydrogen, the compound is called an organic hydroperoxide. Peresters have general structure RCOOR....
.
Like many organic solvents, long term application to the skin can cause
defattingDefatting, often called degreasing, is a term which is used to describe the removal of fatty acids from an object.- Culinary definition :From the perspective of culinary science, the word defatting refers to various methods which are used to reduce the fat content of a meal...
.
Toxicology
Isopropyl alcohol is oxidized by the liver into
acetoneAcetone is the organic compound with the formula OC2. This colorless, mobile, flammable liquid is the simplest example of the ketones. Owing to the fact that acetone is miscible with water it serves as an important solvent in its own right, typically as the solvent of choice for...
by
alcohol dehydrogenaseAlcohol dehydrogenases are a group of seven dehydrogenase enzymes that occur in many organisms and facilitate the interconversion between alcohols and aldehydes or ketones with the reduction of NAD+ to NADH
...
.
SymptomA symptom is a departure from normal function or feeling which is noticed by a patient, indicating the presence of disease or abnormality...
s of isopropyl alcohol poisoning include
flushingFor a person to flush is to become markedly red in the face and often other areas of the skin, from various physiological conditions. Flushing is generally distinguished, despite a close physiological relation between them, from blushing, which is milder, generally restricted to the face, cheeks or...
,
headacheIn medicine a headache or cephalalgia is a symptom of a number of different conditions of the head. Some of the causes are benign while others are medical emergencies.There are a number of different classification systems for headaches...
,
dizzinessDizziness refers to an impairment in spatial perception and stability. It is considered imprecise. It can be used to mean vertigo, presyncope, disequilibrium, or for a non-specific feeling such as giddiness or foolishness....
,
CNS depressionCentral nervous system depression or CNS depression refers to physiological depression of the central nervous system that can result in decreased rate of breathing, decreased heart rate, and loss of consciousness possibly leading to coma or death...
,
nauseaNausea is the sensation of unease and discomfort in the stomach with an urge to vomit.-Causes:...
,
vomitingVomiting is the forceful expulsion of the contents of one's stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose. Undesired vomiting may result from many causes, ranging from gastritis or poisoning to brain tumors, or elevated intracranial pressure...
,
anesthesiaAnesthesia, or anaesthesia , has traditionally meant the condition of having sensation blocked or temporarily taken away. This allows patients to undergo surgery and other procedures without the distress and pain they would otherwise experience...
, and
comaIn medicine, a coma is a profound state of unconsciousness. A comatose person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to pain or light, does not have sleep-wake cycles, and does not take voluntary actions....
. Use in well-ventilated areas and use protective gloves while using. Poisoning can occur from ingestion, inhalation, or absorption.
Isopropyl alcohol is about twice as toxic as
ethanolEthanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug, best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages and in modern thermometers. Ethanol is one of the oldest recreational drugs...
, and acts as a
central nervous system (CNS)The central nervous system is the part of the nervous system that functions to coordinate the activity of all parts of the bodies of bilaterian animals—that is, all animals more advanced than sponges or jellyfish. In vertebrates, the central nervous system is enclosed in the meninges. It contains...
depressantDepressants are psychoactive drugs which temporarily diminish the function or activity of a specific part of the body or mind. Examples of these kinds of effects may include anxiolysis, sedation, and hypotension. Due to their effects typically having a "down" quality to them, depressants are also...
. Its metabolite,
acetoneAcetone is the organic compound with the formula OC2. This colorless, mobile, flammable liquid is the simplest example of the ketones. Owing to the fact that acetone is miscible with water it serves as an important solvent in its own right, typically as the solvent of choice for...
, is a CNS depressant in its own right. Around 15 g of isopropanol can have a toxic effect on a 70 kg human if left untreated. However, it is not nearly as toxic as methanol or
ethylene glycolEthylene glycol is an organic compound widely used as an automotive antifreeze and a precursor to polymers. In its pure form, it is an odorless, colorless, syrupy, sweet tasting liquid....
. Isopropyl alcohol does not cause an anion gap acidosis (in which as lowered blood serum pH causes depletion of
bicarbonateIn inorganic chemistry, bicarbonate is an intermediate form in the deprotonation of carbonic acid...
anion) as do
ethanolEthanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug, best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages and in modern thermometers. Ethanol is one of the oldest recreational drugs...
and
methanolMethanol, also known as methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits, is a chemical with formula CH3OH . It is toxic: drinking 10 ml will cause blindness, and as little as 100 ml will cause death...
. Isopropyl alcohol does, however, produce an
osmolal gapOsmol gap is the difference between measured serum osmolality and calculated serum osmolarity.- Theory :...
between the calculated and measured osmolalities of serum, as do the other alcohols. Overdoses may cause a fruity odor on the breath as a result of its metabolism to
acetoneAcetone is the organic compound with the formula OC2. This colorless, mobile, flammable liquid is the simplest example of the ketones. Owing to the fact that acetone is miscible with water it serves as an important solvent in its own right, typically as the solvent of choice for...
, which is not further metabolized.
External links