Talk:Rubbing alcohol

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[edit] Why is the flame statement under "Abuse"

I highly doubt that you could abuse that, unless you wanted to burn things invisibly or something. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.79.73.33 (talk) 21:07, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

why does it have the word "rubbing"? - Omegatron 21:06, May 16, 2005 (UTC) bllllllllllllllllah —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.115.251.142 (talk) 02:35, 26 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Iodoform

As far as I am aware Surgical Spirit BP does not contain Iodoform. Iodoform is a pale yellow solid that tints anything that it is dissolved in a pale yellow. The tint becomes stronger with time due to the liberation of free iodine. Surgical Spirit BP is a colourless liquid that ramains so on standing. I have added a typical composition for Surgical Spirit BP taken from a bottle in the local supermarket. Socksysquirrel 21:55, 31 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] answer

becouse you rub it on your skin

[edit] i want more info on rubbing alcohol

You can ask the reference desk. There is no guarantee that this article will be expanded. JFW | T@lk 23:10, 14 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Stops water from freezing?

The article said "(Note that alcohol, if added in certain quantities, can stop water from freezing.)". Since alcohol itself freezes, this claim as it sits is both bazarre, and false. It can lower the freezing point of water, but every known substance freezes at SOME temperature. Note also that the comment is a parenthetical comment in a paragraph on the usage as a topical bacteriocide, so it is also irrelevant. SO... I've removed the comment totally.

[edit] Rubbing Alcohol as found on a pharmacy shelf

I did a major edit to clarify the definition of the word "rubbing alcohol". These are based on definitions from both the British and US Pharmacopeoias. Isopropyl rubbing alcohol is popular and is often confused with the ethanol derived product. Some pharmacies attempt to try and prevent abuse of the product by just not carrying the ethanol rubbing alcohol and instead only stock the isopropyl product.

I hope this gives you a bit more info on "rubbing alcohol" and products. consider this a freeby article from the Universe!!!

cheers WIKIPEDIAVI 06:48, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Information based on personal experience

I know from personal experience that isopropyl rubbing alcohol is very effective at dissolving permanent marker and indelible ink markings. Is this suitable for addition into the article under the "Other Applications" heading? Aron G 04:20, 10 June 2006 (UTC)

Answer: SURE!
Isopropyl Alcohol, particularly the 99% concentration, is very much like other organic solvents (i.e. acetone). When trying to remove unwanted difficult marks, I usually arm myself with a few different solvents because sometimes it is trial an error to see which solvent will work. WIKIPEDIAVI 23:36, 18 June 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Vandalism?

"Alcohol can be inserted into parts to bring out the liquids within."

Is this a clever piece of vandalism, referring to masturbation? (Not that I know much about it, nor am I supposed to.) --Ihope127 19:44, 9 October 2006 (UTC)

Possibly. Although this article would suggest otherwise http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/stay_healthy/body/ear_care.html:

"To prevent swimmer's ear, dry your ears after swimming and shake out excess water, especially if you feel it stuck in there. Again, with your parent's help, a few drops of rubbing alcohol can dry out any moisture in there."

I would have thought the reference was to displacing liquids from machine parts.

--Theendlessdream 22:20, 12 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Not potable?

From the article: "Ethanol...is not potable."

Um...I'm pretty sure that it is. Isn't ethanol just the stuff in drinks? Most ethyl rubbing alcohols have additives that make them non-potable, but ethanol itself is pretty much the potable alcohol. Twin Bird 17:27, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

I see your point - I corrected the wording. De-natured 'rubbing alcohol' is what this sentence was referring to. 20:28, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Why 'Rubbing Alcohol' is now thought of as being Isopropyl Alcohol

Having practiced in a hospital, I have noticed that isopropanol based rubbing alcohol products have largely replaced ethanol rubbing alcohol for quick cleaning of injection sites. Probably because isopropanol rubbing alcohol does not have to be 'denatured', thus does not contain the assortment of 'party-favourites' used to denature ethanol products. These denaturants probably leave a residue on the prep'd skin site or sensitize patient's skin. Because isopropanol based products are the norm in hospital settings, when staff ask for 'rubbing alcohol' - they will expect and mostlikely receive an isopropanol based product, but if one was to look closely, the product label will be printed in a manner that reflects that it is isopropyl alcohol (at least this is my experience in North America). Cheers, Wikipedia_V.I. 20:28, 15 November 2006 (UTC)

I am pretty sure isopropanol is the same thing as isopropyl alcohol. Why the "but" in "Because isopropanol based products are the norm in hospital settings, when staff ask for 'rubbing alcohol' - they will expect and mostlikely receive an isopropanol based product, but if one was to look closely, the product label will be printed in a manner that reflects that it is isopropyl alcohol"???


[edit] Lots of confusion about the term ALCOHOL

I can see a lot of "work" has been done to this webpage in the last while.

Under B.P. and U.S.P. standards, "RUBBING ALCOHOL" contains ethanol (not isopropanol).

BP and USP standards for "isopropyl rubbing alcohol" cotains isopropanol.

In the older definitions of pharmaceutical practice, rubbing alcohol was defined as an ethanol product. In the last 30-40 years, isopropyl rubbing alcohol was defined as the isopropanol product.

I attempted to clarify this issue in previous editions of this article but I see someone has their own opinions. To my chemistry trained friends, the definition of alcohol used is along the pharmacy practice lines (not pure and applied chemistry lines).

In pharmacy circles, "alcohol" when used by itself is meant to be referring to ethanol, not the chemical group of alcohols (ie. butanol, methanol usw). This may be why some individuals have re-written the article to try to correct this when infact it is not an error.

I hope at some point to try and re-write it to correct the misunderstanding. Cheers, Wikipedia_V.I. 04:43, 15 October 2007 (UTC)

I have attempted to clarify the definitions of "rubbing alcohol". Please note, in popular usage amoung pharmacies in north america and probably in other areas, "rubbing alcohol" is now thought of as either ethanol or more commonly isopropyl alcohol products. Many manufacturers still attempt to reserve the term "rubbing alcohol" for ethanol products. They may even add the BP or USP standards to the label to further clarify what kind of alcohol is used. If the product is made from Isopropyl alcohol, then the labelling generally shows isopropyl rubbing alcohol on the label. If anyone has an opinion of how to further clarify the matter please contribute. Cheers! Wikipedia_V.I. 20:07, 25 October 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Editing Required

i thought some of the "Other Applications" did not meet wikipedia standards, such as "Although it does not work perfectly, it is effective for removing sharpie marker from human skin."

i also re-worded a few so that they didnt sound so awkward

Dfritter4 07:28, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] "Cautions" contradictory, not clear

I came to this page hoping to learn whether rubbing alcohol is appropriate and safe to use for sterilizing a thermometer. While I do now judge that it is safe, I found on the page more than one apparent contradiction about its safety, the most glaring seen in the following text comparisons:

-- "It is also widely used for cleansing the surgeon's hands ..." (From the "Uses" section of the page.) -- "Some cautions go so far as to say protective gloves should be worn while using it." (From both the "Cautions" section and the "Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol" section.)

If contact through the skin is unsafe past a particular exposure level, shouldn't that be specified? I would have liked to have seen more detail about why some cautions recommend using gloves. Is it just a legal phrase to protect the branding company and manufacturer against liability?

Additionally, under "Cautions", the specific phrasing of the text "Isopropyl rubbing alcohol is poisonous and can cause permanent disabling illness or death if consumed" does not adequately specify whether it is poisonous: a) only when consumed or inhaled, or b) in all interactions, even through overexposure through the skin. Is it more practical to read, "Isopropyl rubbing alcohol is, when consumed or inhaled, poisonous and can cause permanent disabling illness or death." Or is overabsorption through the skin also a risk for poisoning? Wikipedia's own link to "poisonous" in the above page text confirms poisoning is not just through ingestion: "... while other poisons are generally defined as substances which are absorbed through epithelial linings such as the skin or gut."

Another observation: the page seems a bit unclear in places whether it's referring to isopropyl or non-isopropyl alcohols, or both.

Lastly, it's not clear why the "Abuse" section contains the text, "Rubbing alcohol burns with a bright blue flame, which is almost invisible in the light, but visible in the dark. The higher the alcohol percentage, the richer the color, typically." Is this referring to a danger of fire due to the risk that it may not be noticed in regular light before growing out of control? If so, it is under the wrong section and would be more appropriate under "Cautions". If not, then it is a simple description of an attribute of the substance that would be appropriate for the "Physical Properties" section.

Tpanger 07:45, 21 April 2007 (UTC)

Is the addition of the instructions for making a rudimentary explosive device an act of vandalism. I certainly don't think that this is a 'caution' since the act it is describing is rather unlikely to be done 'by accident'. Equally, if every page involving a chemical was to contain such "cautions", wikipedia would rapidly become a list of what not to do with chemicals i.e. not very useful. [[user:jimjamjak]] 15:15, 7 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Please explain formula

The second paragraph says: (Ethyl Alcohol, C2H5OH=46.07). Why is the name Ethyl Alcohol used, and not Ethano? What does the number 46.07 mean? It should be explained or removed. It's not at all self evident. --HelgeStenstrom 08:15, 23 April 2007 (UTC)

Answer: Ethyl alcohol is simply another name for ethanol. 46.07 is the molecular weight of ethanol. It is self evident to anyone with a knowledge of basic high school chemistry.

[edit] poison through absorption

something should be said about the nature of poisoning as a result of absorption through the skin. The page mentions the danger, but also mentions its use for "rubdowns".

71.211.152.251 17:10, 13 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Contradictory

I can't follow the opening paragraphs here. My understanding (I now live in the US) is that rubbing alcohol in the US is typically 70% isopropyl alcohol. So why does this article start talking about ethanol? Is ethanol ever used in rubbing alcohol formulations? If not, please remove all suggestions that it is. If it is, then please clarify when it is ethanol and when it is isopropyl alcohol. The references to BP and USP definitions may be irrelevant if the term "alcohol" is being used according to the standard chemistry definition of an alcohol being and alkyl-OH, as in the main alcohol article. Please clarify! Walkerma 06:13, 20 September 2007 (UTC)

  • I agree. Part of the problem is the use of porly defined terms such as "alcohol" without clarification. I am pretty certain that "Rubbing alcohol, 70% isopropyl alcohol" contains some isopropyl alcohol. I personally think that rubbing alcohol *should be* 95% ethanol but I only see that marketed as "denatured ethanol" and primarily in paint store and hardware stores not pharmacies. Inhalation of ethanol vapors is much better for your health than isopropanol vapors. It's great if that is the case outside the US but the article should be clear.--Nick Y. 22:33, 4 October 2007 (UTC)


[edit] Why is it called rubbing alcohol?

The article doesn't really explain why it is called rubbing alcohol.--203.129.47.170 08:14, 4 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Should not be used for Acne

Using Rubbing Alcohol to treat Acne is not a good idea. The alcohol overdries the skin, making it produce even more oil, so its use is counterproductive. The only time I have heard it used to help treat acne is if you lance a papule/pustule and need to disinfect the lance/needle. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.184.227.32 (talk) 19:49, 8 May 2008 (UTC)