Isopropyl alcohol, also known as denatured alcohol, has numerous practical uses in households, manufacturing, medical and scientific fields. It dissolves petroleum-based products and non-polar compounds, making it a preferred cleaner for sensitive electronic equipment. It is used in the manufacture of other products such as cosmetics, astringents, and fuel additives. Overexposure to isopropyl alcohol can cause health problems, but typically only in those working in medical or industrial settings.
Isopropyl alcohol, also known by its common name denatured alcohol, is a flammable chemical compound with dozens of practical uses. Numerous household uses for isopropyl alcohol include first aid antibacterial cleaners and disinfectant applications, as well as removing glue and stains and cleaning delicate electronic devices. The manufacturing and industrial sectors use isopropyl alcohol for industrial solvents and fuel additives. The medical and scientific uses of isopropyl alcohol include use in DNA extraction, as a preservative for samples, and as a solvent for petroleum-based products.
As a solvent, isopropyl alcohol dissolves petroleum or petroleum-based products, as well as many non-polar compounds. Because the chemical makeup of isopropyl alcohol is a simple combination of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, it is typically nontoxic and therefore safe in many environments. Rapid evaporation is also a beneficial feature, making isopropyl alcohol a preferred cleaner for sensitive electronic or robotic equipment in manufacturing facilities. Removing hydraulic fluid, engine oil, and bearing grease are just a few of the industrial uses of isopropyl alcohol.
The home uses of isopropyl alcohol are plentiful, with most homes keeping a bottle of denatured alcohol as a basic medicine cabinet. Minor waste can be disinfected with isopropyl alcohol, as well as disinfect the skin before needle sticks or injections for diabetics and similar patients. Like industrial applications, sensitive home electronic devices such as compact disc players, video game consoles, computer peripherals, and various optical disc drives can be safely cleaned with denatured alcohol. Glue residue from labels and price tags as well as smears and smudges on cell phones and other personal electronic devices can also be easily removed with isopropyl alcohol.
Hospitals, doctor’s offices, and other medical facilities typically stock disinfectant wipes soaked in isopropyl alcohol to use before injections, blood draw, or otherwise piercing the skin for medical testing. Additionally, medical uses of denatured alcohol include DNA extraction. After centrifuging the DNA samples — a process known as centrifugation — isopropyl alcohol is added to separate the DNA molecules into pellets for easier examination under a microscope. Other biological samples such as organs and tissues may be stored in denatured alcohol rather than formaldehyde, especially when maintaining safety and non-toxicity is important.
While isopropyl alcohol has many uses as a standalone compound, it is used in the manufacture of other products as well. For example, facial cleansers, cosmetics, astringents, household cleaners, perfumes, and some pharmaceutical products contain isopropyl alcohol. Some personal care products, such as waterless hand sanitizer, contain denatured alcohol as the main ingredient. Lacquers, products intended as fuel additives to remove water from gasoline, and even some dyes also contain isopropyl alcohol in varying amounts.
While it is used in a variety of environments, products and applications, overexposure to isopropyl alcohol through direct skin contact, inhalation or ingestion has been linked to health problems. Symptoms of overexposure include dizziness and nausea, as well as skin irritation. Typically, only extensive exposure, such as that experienced by those working in medical or industrial settings, results in significant health problems.
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