Isopropyl alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol (also known as 2-propanol, isopropanol, or rubbing alcohol) is a colorless, flammable chemical compound with a strong odor. It is the simplest example of a secondary alcohol, where the alcohol carbon is attached to two other carbons. It is a structural isomer of propanol.

Properties

Isopropyl alcohol is a volatile, colorless liquid with a strong, musty odor. It is miscible in water, ethanol, ether, and chloroform. It will dissolve ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl butyral, many oils, alkaloids, gums and natural resins. It is insoluble in salt solutions. Unlike ethanol or methanol, isopropyl alcohol can be separated from aqueous solutions by adding a salt such as sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, or any of several other inorganic salts.

Production

Isopropyl alcohol is produced from propene which is a byproduct of ethene production and petroleum refining. Propene is hydrated to isopropyl alcohol using sulfuric acid as a catalyst.

Uses

Isopropyl alcohol is used in a variety of applications. It is used as a solvent for a wide variety of nonpolar compounds. It is also used as a coolant in beer manufacture, a coupling agent, a dehydrating agent, a polymerization catalyst and a pharmaceutical aid. It is also used as a cleaning fluid and a solvent in industry, and as a shellac and denaturant for ethanol. It is used in the manufacture of a wide variety of industrial and household chemicals, and is a common ingredient in chemicals such as antiseptics, detergents, and disinfectants.

Safety

Isopropyl alcohol is highly flammable and can easily ignite. Vapors may form explosive mixtures with air, traveling to a source of ignition and flash back, and use of water spray to fight fires may be inefficient. It is a multiple dose poison, consuming it can be harmful or fatal.

See also

• Ethanol
• Methanol
• Propanol
• Antiseptic
• Disinfectant

References

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  One of the small scale uses of isopropanol is in cloud chambers. Isopropanol has ideal physical and chemical properties to form a supersaturated layer of vapor which can be condensed by particles of radiation.