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Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol, U.S.P. / B.P. is a liquid prepared for topical application to skin prepared from specially denatured alcohol and containing 68.5-71.5% vol./vol. of absolute (ie. 100%) alcohol. However, individual manufacturers can use their own "formulation standards" in which the ethanol content usually ranges from 70-95% v/v. NOTE: the British Pharmacopoeia and United States Pharmacopoeia define the term "Alcohol" as a mixture of ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol, C2H5OH=46.07) and water of fixed proportions i.e. Alcohol, B.P.= ethanol 96% v/v , Alcohol, U.S.P. = ethanol 95% v/v . Therefore, the term rubbing alcohol generally refers to a mixture using ethyl alcohol.
In the United States, rubbing alcohol, U.S.P. and all preparations coming under the classification of Rubbing Alcohols and must be manufactured in accordance with the requirements of the US Treasury Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, using Formula 23-H (8 parts by volume of acetone, 1.5 parts by volume of methyl isobutyl ketone, and 100 parts by volume of ethyl alcohol). It contains 68.5-71.5% by volume of absolute ethyl alcohol, the remainder consisting of water and the denaturants, with or without colour additives, and perfume oils. Rubbing Alcohol contains in each 100 mL not less than 355 mg of sucrose octaacetate or not less than 1.40 mg of denatonium benzoate. The preparation may be coloured with one or more colour additives. A suitable stabilizer may also be added.
Rubbing alcohol also exist on pharmacy store shelves without the U.S.P. standard designation. The concentration of the ethyl alcohol component can vary but it is generally printed under the ingedient list of that particular product. A common concentration is 95%
Description: Transparent, colourless or coloured as desired, mobile, volatile liquid, with an extremely bitter taste, and in the absence of added odourous substances, a characteristic odour; flammable; specific gravity of Formula 23-H is between 0.8691 and 0.8771 at 15.56°.
Uses' Applied externally as a cooling, soothing application for bedridden patients and athletes. It is also widely used for cleansing the surgeon's hands and instruments and for disinfection of the skin prior to penetration of the skin by a hypodermic needle. As an antiseptic it is good against vegetative bacteria and fair against fungi and viruses. It is ineffective against spores. It is widely believed that 70% ethanol provides the greatest reduction in bacterial count; however, this is in error. Other concentrations may be more effective, but their rate of kill is slower. In order to reduce the skin bacterial count to 5% of normal, 70% ethanol must be left on the skin for at least 2 min. Ethanol is also a feeble anesthetic and a mild counterirritant. It is not potable (drinkable).
Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol
Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol, U.S.P. / B.P. contains 68-72% of isopropyl alcohol, by volume, the remainder consisting of water, with or without colour additives, suitable stabilizers, and perfume oils.
Description: Transparent, mobile, volatile liquid with a slightly bitter taste and, in the absence of odorous constituents, a characteristic odor; specific gravity between 0.872 and 0.883. Isopropyl rubbing alcohol is poisonous and can cause permanent disabling illness or death if consumed.
Uses It is recognized as a rubefacient because it evaporates quickly and is used to cool and soothe skin. It is, however, more widely used as an antiseptic for sterilizing surfaces or clean minor cuts or abrasions.
Isopropyl rubbing alcohol can also be supplied in a 99% concentration. This product is used to harden skin such as in the case of the feet of novice hikers. Care should always be taken, and label of the preparation read carefully. It is unsuited as a fuel in alcohol stoves because of the relatively low vapor pressure of isopropyl alcohol. 99% isopropyl alcohol has been used in the illicit drug trade for preparing and drying marijuana. For this reason, some pharmacists have attempted to limit the sale of this product.
In the UK the equivalent skin preparation is surgical spirit which is always based on an ethyl alcohol-methyl alcohol mixture, and which often has the addition of small quantities of iodoform as a topical bacteriocide.
Abuse
Rubbing alcohol is sometimes consumed by those who cannot afford or cannot legally buy beverage (potable) alcohol (ethanol). The minimum age of 21 to purchase alcohol in the United States does not apply to rubbing alcohol.
Isopropyl alcohol is oxidized by the liver into acetone. Symptoms of isopropyl alcohol poisoning include flushing, headache, dizziness, CNS depression, nausea, vomiting, anesthesia, and coma. Use in well-ventilated areas and use protective gloves while using. Poisoning can occur from ingestion, inhalation, or absorption.
Rubbing alcohol products that contain methyl alcohol can cause blindness or death when consumed.
Other applications
It will supposedly remove silly putty from cloth materials
"Rubbing alcohol"