What is Isopropyl Alcohol? Its Uses & Formula

What is Isopropyl Alcohol?

Isopropyl alcohol is the alcohol that is most commonly utilized in rubbing alcohol. Besides this, isopropyl alcohol also has many uses, which will be discussed later on. 

Isopropyl alcohol, is also known as isopropanol, is a flammable and colorless liquid, and you probably know its smell very well if you have used it previously. It evaporates rapidly when the container in which it is contained is left open, meaning it is a volatile liquid. 

Do you usually get small cuts or wounds? If you do, then you must know the chemical very well, which is rubbing alcohol. It is a special and a must requirement for our first aid kids and medicine cabinets. Isopropyl Alcohol is also present in hand sanitizers.

Formula and Structure of Rubbing Alcohol

Let’s look at the chemical formulas of isopropyl alcohol. The formula of isopropyl alcohol is C3H8O; it contains three carbon (C) atoms, eight hydrogens (H) atoms, and one oxygen (O) atom.

There are many ways in which the chemical formula of isopropyl alcohol can be displayed. However, whichever way you represent it, the number of carbons, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms remains the same. 

Chemical structure of isopropyl alcohol

Carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen atoms are linked together. A three-carbon chain is present, which contains the three carbon atoms of isopropyl alcohol when linked together.

The middle carbon atom has one hydrogen and one carboxyl group bonded to it, while the other two carbon atoms present at the ends consist of three hydrogen atoms linked to them. 

Uses of isopropyl alcohol

1. It Gets Rid of Plant Pests

The pests that infest your houseplants can be eliminated using rubbing alcohol which works in a natural and less toxic manner.

Cotton dipped in alcohol should be swiped at the insects to stop infestations of whiteflies, mealybugs, aphids, and scale crawlers. 

2. It Eases Nausea After Surgery

Feeling nauseated or vomiting after your surgery is quite common. It occurs as a side effect of anesthesia, a chemical that helps you to sleep.

A few research studies suggest that smelling rubbing alcohol on a pad helps to ease your troubled stomach after surgery. The effects may be short-term but still works faster than anti-nausea medicine.   

3. It Can Remove Ink Stains

Spilled ink on a shirt with no sight of any stain remover? You should use the rubbing alcohol for this purpose. The trick is to apply it before the stain dries, as old ones are difficult to remove.

Wet a pad with rubbing alcohol and apply it to the stain. Keep on changing the pad as it soaks the ink stain. 

4. Isopropyl alcohol 70% Cleans Up Around the House

70% isopropyl alcohol can disinfect surfaces properly. If you want to clean a window or glass as DIY, then use 1 pint of rubbing alcohol with ½ teaspoon of liquid dish detergent and ½ cup of ammonia.

Add sufficient water to make a gallon and keep it in spray bottles. To remove any tree sap or bugs from your car, wash your car first and then apply rubbing alcohol on the remaining spots using a cloth. 

Alcohol pre pads or alcohol swabs are also available and made with isopropyl alcohol so you can also use them for cleansing purposes. You can buy alcohol swabs online from any pharmacy store such as life Pharmacy store. 

These alcohol swabs are handy first aid antiseptic wet wipes that come in a convenient canister.

5. It Can Ease an Ear Infection

Combine rubbing alcohol and vinegar in a 1 to 1 ratio. Add a few drops in the solution in the ear and then allow it to drain.

It helps to dry your ears after being in a pool for long and also maintains the pH balance of the ear after an ear infection. 

6. Alcohol disinfectant 

70% Rubbing alcohol solution can disinfect the things such as your hard granite and quartz countertops. Alcohol towelettes are available in hospitals to disinfect small surfaces like stethoscopes, scissors, and thermometers against small germs.

However, when you use rubbing alcohol to sterilize medical and surgical equipment, infections can occur due to the inability to destroy bacterial spores and it is not suggested by experts.

Buy alcohol swabs Online

You can buy alcohol swabs online at lifePharmacy.com. We offer Alcohol swabs at very reasonable price and we offer express delivery as well.