Octanol is a colorless liquid alcohol used to make foam control agents, fragrances, and artificial flavors. It is also being studied for its potential to treat neurological tremors. However, it can be harmful and irritating to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract, and should not be ingested in large quantities. Octanol has eight carbon atoms and is flammable.
Octanol is a chemical called fatty alcohol that is a natural ingredient in certain essential oils, but can also be synthesized. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States as a food additive. This liquid alcohol is colorless, but it has a very strong and penetrating odor. It is used to make foam control agents, and is also commonly used to make chemical compounds called esters that are used to make fragrances in the perfumery industry, and to make various types of artificial flavors. Some experimental medical trials are underway with octanol to treat conditions involving involuntary neurological tremors, such as those caused by essential tremor (ET) disorder.
Octanol is also known as capyl alcohol and octyl alcohol. When combined with acetic acid, an ester called octyl acetate is produced. It has a floral or herbal aroma, and is used to make artificial orange flavoring and other food additives. Octyl acetate is also used to make various types of solvents for waxes, oils, and resins.
The medical use of octanol to treat neurological tremors is still experimental, but some promising results have been obtained in scientific studies. Small doses of ethanol, also known as straight alcohol and drinking alcohol, have been known to relieve these types of involuntary tremors. It is hoped that other types of alcohol, such as octanol, can provide relief without causing intoxication.
Although approved as a food additive, this liquid fatty alcohol should not be ingested in large quantities or in its pure form because it can be harmful. It can be irritating to both skin and eyes, causing redness and pain, and it is recommended to wear safety glasses, gloves, and protective clothing when handling it. One should rinse the eyes with water if they come into contact with this substance, and the skin should be washed very well with soap and water in case of contact. Inhalation of this substance can irritate the respiratory tract and affect the central nervous system, causing dizziness, headaches, coughing and even loss of consciousness.
The word octanol is derived from the Latin word octo, which means eight, and the substance is so named because it has eight carbon atoms. There are four different types, or isomers, commonly known as octanol that have similar but not identical properties. These four types are more specifically known as 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-octanol. This fatty alcohol is flammable and can be a fire hazard if not handled properly.
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