Question

The most commonly used skin antiseptic, rubbing alcohol, is how many percent alcohol?

Answer 1

The creams or lotions used to prevent the cuts and wounds from microbial growth are known as antiseptics. Rubbing alcohol as the name indicates is a solution of alcohol. Rubbing alcohol contains a high amount of alcohol. The alcohol present in rubbing alcohol is isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol.

Complete answer:
- Rubbing alcohol term is used for isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is also known as isopropanol. Ethyl alcohol is known as ethanol. Rubbing alcohol contains an additive that makes it foul smell, bad in taste, poisonous. So, rubbing alcohol is undrinkable.
- Rubbing alcohol is a liquid used as a body surface antiseptic. The word rubbing tells it to use that is only for application on the body surface. It cannot be consumed.
- The rubbing alcohol contains 70% alcohol by volume. Alcohol by volume means the amount of alcohol in a total volume of the alcoholic beverage. The water is used as a solvent so the rest amount of rubbing alcohol is water.

Therefore, the most commonly used skin antiseptic, rubbing alcohol, is 70%.

Note:

Isopropyl alcohol is a secondary alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is flammable, colourless liquid. The chemical formula of isopropyl alcohol is ${\text{C}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}{\text{CHOHC}}{{\text{H}}_{\text{3}}}$.
Rubbing alcohol is also known as surgical spirit. Rubbing alcohol is used on the body surface, so it is a topical antiseptic. Antiseptics are applied on the body surface only. Rubbing alcohols are flammable and volatile. The boiling point of rubbing alcohol depends upon the proportion of alcohol.