Question

Is rubbing alcohol and isopropyl alcohol the same?

Answer 1

The compounds which are obtained by replacing hydrogen atoms from aliphatic hydrocarbons by hydroxyl group $\left( { - OH} \right)$ are known as aliphatic alcohol. While replacing hydrogen from aromatic hydrocarbons by hydroxyl group leads to formation of phenol. Isopropyl alcohol comes under the category of secondary alcohol because the hydroxyl group is attached to the $\left( { - C{H_2}} \right)$ group.

Complete answer:
Rubbing alcohol and isopropyl alcohol both coms under the category of aliphatic alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol contains a $3$ carbon atom with one $\left( { - OH} \right)$ group attached to the carbon skeleton.
Isopropyl alcohol is used commonly as a solvent in various industries to dissolve a variety of components.
Rubbing alcohol is a mixture of alcohol and water in a definite proportion. Rubbing alcohol may contain isopropyl alcohol with water ethanol. Rubbing alcohol may contain upto $90\%$ of the isopropyl alcohol.

PROPERTIES	ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL	RUBBING ALCOHOL
COMPOSITION	Contain only isopropyl alcohol	It may contain isopropyl alcohol or ethanol.
CHEMICAL FORMULA	${C_3}{H_8}O$	${C_3}{H_8}O$ or ${C_2}{H_5}OH$
COMMON NAME	Propan-2-ol	Surgical spirit
IGNITION PROPERTY	flammable	flammable
CONSUMPTION	Harmful for internal use	Harmful for internal use
VOLATILITY	Volatile in nature	Volatile in nature
BOILING POINT	82$\circ c$	80-83$\circ c$
TOXICITY	Relative less toxic than rubbing alcohol	More toxic in nature
NATURAL APPEARANCE	colourless	colourless
COMMERCIAL APPEARANCE	No colour additives are generally added.	Colour additives are added.
FRAGRANCE	Pungent alcoholic odor	Fragrance additives are used like oil of wintergreen.
USES	Antiseptic, detergent, disinfectant	Deodorants, surface disinfectants, as astringent for skin.

Note:
Isopropyl shows the tendency to form an azeotropic mixture on combining with water. Isopropyl alcohol gives all the general chemical reactions of aliphatic alcohol like on heating it over the copper catalyst it gets converted into acetone with release of hydrogen gas.
${\left( {C{H_3}} \right)_2}CHOH\dfrac{{cu}}{\Delta }{\left( {C{H_3}} \right)_2}CO + {H_2} \uparrow$
Rubbing alcohol contains some other ingredients along with isopropyl alcohol or ethanol. It also contains water, denaturants, perfume oil and with or without colour imparting components. Rubbing alcohol name as such because it is applied by rubbing over the skin.