Isopropyl Alcohol: A Closer Look at a Familiar Chemical

Tracing the Path: How Isopropyl Alcohol Entered Our Lives

Long before isopropyl alcohol landed on pharmacy shelves, chemists in the early 20th century began exploring alcohols that weren't destined for a wine glass. In the 1920s, research at Standard Oil revealed isopropyl alcohol as a useful solvent born from the reaction of propene with sulfuric acid and water. Not exactly glamorous, but this paved the way for an antiseptic that replaced more volatile or toxic alcohols in medicine cabinets around the world. Fast-forward to today, warehouses around the globe move thousands of tons of this solvent. It fuels not just cleaning but modern medicine, manufacturing, and endless lab work, demonstrating how necessity often pushes experimentation, landing an accidental solvent into the hands of nurses, machinists, and hobbyists alike.

Peering Inside the Bottle: What Isopropyl Alcohol Is, and Isn’t

Shoppers call it “rubbing alcohol,” but under that name, it hides a practical colorless liquid with a sharp scent. Isopropyl alcohol, or 2-propanol, dissolves oils, ink, adhesive residue, and fits comfortably into first-aid kits for wound cleaning. You’ll find bottles in varying strengths: the drugstore variety generally holds 70% solution, standing as a sweet spot for effective disinfecting. In labs, the anhydrous or technical grade goes up to 99%. Where some alcohols like ethanol take on a fruity tone, isopropyl’s scent leans strong and chemical, warning you not to confuse it with anything potable. Formulators and factory techs pay close attention to purities, water contents, and possible residual impurities—a batch laced with acetone won’t work for electronics cleaning. What I’ve learned is this: every small difference in purity or labeling matters, since a 91% bottle might clear out a carburetor but could burn your skin if you treated it like hand sanitizer.

Under the Microscope: Physical and Chemical Traits

IPAs short boiling point, 82.6°C, lets it evaporate faster than water, which works well for streak-free cleaning or hospital-grade sanitizing. The molecular weight reads 60.1 g/mol, and compared to ethanol, there’s a bit more bulk. Sip a drop—not recommended—and you’ll truly taste its bitterness before it triggers a burning, nauseating pull in your gut. It mixes with water in any ratio, shifting from pure alcohol to dilute solutions that soften its bite. Chemical engineers take note of its flammability and how easily it forms explosive vapors. Safety-conscious users know the flash point: about 12°C. That’s low enough that a summer sunbeam on a workbench can spark a fire hazard. As a solvent, it handles fats, oils, and resins with ease, proving itself in everything from whiteboard cleaning sprays to industrial degreasers.

Checking the Label: Technical Specs and How It’s Packaged

Factories churn out IPA in grades that range from ACS reagent standard to general cleaning grade. Buyers want details— water content, aldehyde and ketone presence, and methods of distillation. The bottle often comes labeled with flammability warnings, batch numbers, and not-so-gentle reminders: keep away from heat, don’t swallow, avoid eye contact. Bulk shipments move in steel drums, while pharmacies stock it in user-sized transparent plastic containers. Not every batch matches the last, but the world of tight regulation, especially for pharmaceutical and electronics cleaning, keeps its surprises to a minimum. Labels may also show the country of origin, net weight, and crucial hazard symbols that have saved more than a few careless workers from accidental burns.

How It’s Made: The Industrial Route to IPA

Imagine a chemical plant running around the clock. IPA starts life as propene, itself a byproduct of refining petroleum. Chemists push propene to react with sulfuric acid, producing isopropyl sulfate, which then reacts with water to yield isopropyl alcohol. There’s an alternate route, converting propene directly with water in the presence of a catalyst, useful when balancing scale against byproduct handling. Later steps focus on removing water, scrubbing out remaining acids, and distilling to purities as fine as 99.9%, ready for precise work in semiconductor labs. Handling raw propene, maintaining reaction temperature, and controlling waste streams challenge plant operators, who know that the smallest slip can affect purity or, worse, unleash dangerous fumes.

Watching It React: Chemical Behavior and Possible Tweaks

IPA’s structure, with its hydroxyl group, puts it into the family of secondary alcohols. Expose it to oxidizing agents like chromic acid and it turns into acetone, a key building block for solvents and plastics. Its readiness to form esters, ethers, or halides with a little coaxing lets it play in the backgrounds of pharmaceutical synthesis and specialty cleaning fluid preparations. Reacting IPA with hydrochloric acid transforms it into isopropyl chloride, a useful intermediate—although this process brings plenty of health hazards. Scratching the surface in a synthetic chemistry course, I learned to respect just how versatile IPA stands—both as a reagent and as a product, the crossroads of petrochemical processes.

What’s in a Name? Synonyms and Trade Labels

On chemical shelves and shopping lists, IPA goes by many names. Look for “2-propanol,” “isopropanol,” or “sec-propyl alcohol.” Some industry labels might just stick with “rubbing alcohol,” though that can mislead, since true compositions vary depending on region and manufacturer. Proprietary blends exist, especially where additives affect shelf life or evaporation rates. Manufacturers select names that signal use or purity: “99% Anhydrous Isopropanol” for laboratories; “Medical Grade IPA” for clinics; or branded cleaning solvents in electronics, which may blend in surfactants or colorants. This naming shuffle sometimes causes confusion for everyday users—it’s why consumer education never ends.

Keeping It Safe: Use Guidelines and Operation Practices

Anyone working with IPA quickly learns about hazard symbols and fire regulations. Spilled IPA, even in small amounts, can find a spark in no time—fueling fires that resist water-based extinguishing. High concentrations irritate skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. OSHA guidelines require good ventilation, flameproof storage, and the use of gloves or goggles during handling. It’s not just about following law but protecting lives. In my own workspace, the pungent odor warns you to air out the room; failing to do so brings on dizziness and headaches. Accidental ingestion, especially among children, draws poison control hotlines into action. Year after year, reminders circulate in medical bulletins, reinforcing safe storage away from kids and flammable materials—safety that never grows old.

How It Gets Used: Everyday and High-Tech Applications

IPA remains the backbone of disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizers, and surface sprays found in homes, hospitals, and schools. Auto mechanics reach for bottles to clean windshield residue or strip grease from engine parts. In electronics, it plays the unsung hero, cleaning circuit boards without leaving water behind. Pharmacies use it to sterilize instruments. Laboratories rely on it to prepare microscope slides or purify certain chemicals. Print shops mix it into inks and dampening solutions. Even cosmetic industries depend on its fast drying and antiseptic effects—think aftershave balms or nail polish removers that dry slick without residue. Each sector asks something different of IPA, but its blend of evaporation speed, solvency, and bacterial kill rate keeps it in play.

R&D Frontiers: What Scientists Are Doing with IPA

Current research looks at greener production methods leveraging renewable resources instead of petrochemicals. Scientists hunt for catalysts that make synthesis faster or cleaner, reducing energy use and cutting waste. Material scientists test IPA mixtures in flexible electronics or advanced coatings that resist fingerprints and smudges. Healthcare workers push for better hand sanitizer formulations, mixing IPA with emollients to combat skin dryness. New procedures explore IPA’s limits in DNA/RNA purification, vital work in genetic labs and diagnostics. As regulations around emissions and solvent handling tighten, chemists tweak production and recycling strategies, ensuring IPA remains a sustainable tool in tomorrow’s toolkit.

What We Know About IPA’s Dangers: Toxicity and Research Gaps

Studies show the hazards sharpen with dose and concentration. Swallowing IPA leads to dizziness, headaches, confusion, even hospitalization for poisoning; some cases have ended in coma. Prolonged skin exposure causes dryness, cracking, or allergic reactions. Inhalation at high levels wears down the central nervous system. Despite its long history, questions still loom over chronic exposure, especially in workplaces where cleaning vapor lingers in closed rooms. Animal studies guide workplace limits: NIOSH sets exposure limits at 400ppm for an 8-hour shift. Stories from emergency rooms and poison centers confirm what the data says—quick action matters when dealing with accidents. As with so many chemicals, education stands as the frontline defense against accidental overdoses, whether at home or in a factory.

Ahead and Beyond: The Future of Isopropyl Alcohol

The sudden leap in sanitizer demand during public health crises taught the world a tough lesson—supply chains strain easily, and over-reliance on a single production method leaves gaps. Research aims to shake up traditional syntheses, bringing in bio-based routes that harness waste biomass, corn, or algae, cutting the world’s reliance on fossil fuels. Environmental groups keep a close eye on emission footprints, urging cleaner and safer packaging. On the consumer side, product formulators look at alternatives and additions, searching for solvents just as effective but less harsh. As new diseases spread or industrial processes evolve, IPA won’t vanish, but its role may change alongside our search for safer, greener, and smarter chemicals.




What is isopropyl alcohol used for?

What’s the Deal with Isopropyl Alcohol?

Walk into any pharmacy or grocery store, and at some point, you’ll notice a stash of isopropyl alcohol sitting between the hydrogen peroxide and hand sanitizer. Most folks know it’s helpful, but after talking to family, neighbors, and coworkers, I’ve realized only a few can list more than two ways they’ve used it. The truth is, isopropyl alcohol is one of those household staples that keeps showing up over and over—sometimes right at the moment you need it most.

Cleaning Cuts and Scrapes

As a kid, nothing hurt like cleaning a skinned knee with isopropyl alcohol. That sting sticks with you. Despite the pain, it kills the germs and keeps minor wounds from turning into nightmares. Hospitals, clinics, and paramedic kits rely on it for that exact reason. A cotton swab soaked in the stuff clears away dirt and bacteria from the skin before the bandage ever goes on. Using it for wound cleansing doesn’t replace a doctor, but it simplifies first aid at home.

Tough Cleaning Without Fancy Chemicals

Look under my kitchen sink; you’ll find isopropyl alcohol in with the vinegar and sponges. Kitchens, bathrooms, phone screens—most hard surfaces wipe cleaner with it than with typical soap and water. I’ve used it on computer keyboards, remote controls, and the sticky bottom of the fridge. It dries quickly, so your smartphone won’t get water damage. It also busts through grease, sticky candy fingerprints, ink, and even some permanent marker stains. The stuff works fast on mirrors and glass, leaving no smudges.

Stopping the Spread During Flu Season

Cold and flu viruses stick to doorknobs and light switches. During a tough winter, I grab a spray bottle, fill it half and half with isopropyl alcohol and water, and wipe down everything from TV remotes to bathroom handles. The CDC points out that solutions with at least 70% alcohol content kill most bacteria and viruses effectively. This extra cleaning step has helped me dodge community bugs more than once.

Every Crafter’s Secret Helper

At school art fairs, teachers keep isopropyl alcohol around for more reasons than just cleaning up paint spills. Painters use it to thin out acrylics or create wild, marbled effects on paper. Anyone working with stickers or price tags knows that a tiny splash loosens up adhesives better than most “all-in-one” sprays. Scrubbing off permanent marker stains from whiteboards, for example, works best with a quick rub of alcohol.

A Tool on the Workbench

Anyone fiddling with electronics or mechanical parts knows the value. I keep a bottle handy in my garage for degreasing bicycle chains and cleaning up gears. Before I swap out a laptop battery or snap open a phone back, I give the surfaces a quick wipe so dust and oil don’t mess with connections. Many repair shops stick with it because it evaporates without leaving a sticky mess.

Keeping It Safe

Using isopropyl alcohol demands a bit of caution: proper ventilation, keeping it away from open flames, and storing it out of reach of kids and pets. Mixing with the wrong stuff or using it on deep cuts can cause problems. Remember, it’s not a drink or a miracle cure, just a workhorse that’s earned its spot in the back of almost every cabinet.

Sensible Ways Forward

Relying on isopropyl alcohol as a household tool saves time and money, but some folks overuse it and forget basic safety. Better labeling, community reminders about flammability, and sharing smart use tips can keep accidents down. If people know more about how and why it works, they can use it with a little more confidence—and steer clear of the mistakes that turn a useful product into a troublemaker.

Is isopropyl alcohol safe for skin?

What Is Isopropyl Alcohol?

Isopropyl alcohol lines shelves in just about every pharmacy and corner store, usually in the form of a clear bottle, often labeled as “rubbing alcohol.” It crops up as the go-to cleaner for everything from sticky residue to scraped knees and phone screens. Many folks treat it as an all-purpose solution, dabbing it on skin for cuts, acne, or even just to feel fresh. This reputation for being a reliable staple built up over decades, but there’s more to using it on skin than the label suggests.

How Skin Reacts to Isopropyl Alcohol

Applying isopropyl alcohol feels cold and sharp at first touch. That blast of cooling comes from the alcohol evaporating rapidly, which sucks away heat and moisture along with it. Dryness sets in fast. After years of working outdoors and taking advice from family to use rubbing alcohol for minor nicks, I learned how easy it is to end up with cracked knuckles and stinging hands—especially in the winter.

Doctors and dermatologists warn against regular use on healthy skin. Studies show that concentrations above 70% can break down the skin’s outer oils, the layer that keeps bacteria and irritants out. Stripping this barrier makes skin more prone to infection, itching, and eczema. Even using it on a pimple can lead to redness and a flaky patch by morning. Children’s thinner skin soaks up alcohol faster, and the American Academy of Pediatrics points to dangerous cases where overuse—even inhaling—causes toxicity.

That being said, isopropyl alcohol wipes do serve a vital role in hospitals and workplaces for quick disinfection. Medical staff use it to clean the skin before injections, knowing it kills germs on contact. Still, protocol says not to use it for large wounds or routine washing. No one in medicine would soak a patient’s skin in it and call it safe.

Why People Keep Using It

Some folks keep thinking alcohol must be safer than soap or sanitizer for tough messes, partly out of habit. Growing up around construction, I heard stories of people fixing grease-stained hands by rubbing on straight alcohol. In my experience, the clean feeling fades as the skin tightens and flakes later. After my own run-ins with redness, I always stuck to hand soap, even if it took more scrubbing. Cleaners and mechanics I spoke with bring up similar stories—quick fixes lead to peeling fingers and, eventually, delays from open cuts that couldn’t heal.

During the pandemic, shortages of other sanitizers sent a rush toward isopropyl alcohol, and misinformation spread quickly online. Many folks didn’t realize that regular hand sanitizers usually blend in moisturizers to counteract harshness, something missing in straight alcohol.

Better Ways to Care for Skin

Soap and water still work for most jobs. They break down oil and germs without attacking the skin barrier. For surface wounds, saline solution does the trick just as well as alcohol, without the burn or risk of extra damage. Modern gel sanitizers mix in aloe or glycerin to reduce dryness, which explains why hands feel smoother after using them.

People with sensitive or damaged skin would do better skipping alcohol altogether. If you’re stuck with only isopropyl and need to sanitize, use a small amount, let it dry, and go back with a basic moisturizer like petroleum jelly. OSHA guidelines for workplaces reinforce this point: focus on handwashing, and keep alcohol for equipment or rare situations.

At home, keeping alcohol for cleaning surfaces is safer than reaching for it in the bathroom. I learned the hard way that managing cuts with milder solutions helps them heal faster—and saves a lot of discomfort. Saving the bottle for household tasks leaves hands happier and healthier in the long run.

What is the difference between isopropyl alcohol and rubbing alcohol?

Easy to Mix Up, but Not the Same Thing

It’s easy to assume that isopropyl alcohol and rubbing alcohol are identical bottles with different labels. I used to think that grabbing either one for sticky messes, disinfecting gadgets, or cleaning cuts would make no difference. Turns out, those little bottles in your cupboard can be very different in how they work and what else comes mixed in.

Composition: More Than Just Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol is just the pure chemical, often showing up in bottles as a clear liquid that’s usually 70% or 91% strength diluted in water. Rubbing alcohol, on store shelves, often starts with that same isopropyl base, but then turns into something else — a mixture blended with water and extras like denatonium benzoate (to make sure nobody drinks it), sometimes colorants, or ingredients to add a cooling effect. Growing up, our medicine cabinet always stocked the green-tinted bottle that stung like fire on scraped knees; that’s classic rubbing alcohol.

Different Strengths for Different Uses

Pure isopropyl alcohol works hard when you want fast evaporation or need to break down sticky residues, such as removing tree sap from hands or adhesive left by stickers. Doctors often use 70% isopropyl for skin prep before an injection because it hits that sweet spot: strong enough to kill germs but with enough water to keep from evaporating before it does its work. At home, I’ve ruined plenty of screens using too-strong alcohol, stripping away coatings I didn't know were there.

Rubbing alcohol, since it often has additives and the concentration hovers around 70%, lands as the common choice for household first aid and cleaning chores. The limitations show up when the extra stuff gets in the way — I learned the hard way never to use rubbing alcohol on electronics, as those additives can leave a sticky film behind.

Price and Access: Why We Grab What’s Handy

Isopropyl alcohol, in higher concentrations, can cost a bit more per ounce and sometimes disappears from shelves during cold and flu season, or those sudden home-cleaning frenzies like during a pandemic. Rubbing alcohol, on the other hand, fills more space in the first aid aisle because it's cheaper to make and sell, and the extra ingredients let companies stretch that alcohol further.

Health and Safety Hazards

Some folks try to use either alcohol as a homemade hand sanitizer, not realizing those chemical additives in rubbing alcohol are not skin-friendly for constant use. Isopropyl in high concentrations dries skin quickly and can cause cracking, especially with repeated use — a lesson I figured out after a week of frequent cleaning with nothing but a bottle of the straight stuff and no moisturizer.

Drinking either isopropyl or rubbing alcohol, even by mistake, can land you in the ER with a whole range of problems, from dizziness to organ damage. Companies add bitter flavors and coloring to rubbing alcohol so people don't confuse it with drinking spirits. Despite that, cases pop up every year of accidental poisonings, especially with kids or pets.

Smart Swaps and Practical Tips

If you want to clean wounds, reach for rubbing alcohol, but try to avoid overusing it — soap and water often does a safer job. For cleaning electronics or eyeglasses, always pick pure isopropyl alcohol at around 70% and test on a hidden spot first. Everyday life throws all kinds of messes our way; knowing which bottle to grab saves money, time, and maybe even a trip to the doctor’s office.

Can isopropyl alcohol be used as a disinfectant?

Everyday Cleaning: How Most of Us Use Isopropyl Alcohol

Everyone probably has a dusty, half-empty bottle of isopropyl alcohol in the bathroom cabinet or under the kitchen sink. I’ve used it to scrub sticky marks off scissors, wipe smartphone screens, and dab a cut or two. Watching it evaporate off the counter sometimes feels like a step up from plain old soap and water. Many folks reach for isopropyl alcohol because it feels like a cleaner that hits germs hard.

If a flu bug makes its way through the house, spray bottles filled with isopropyl get a workout on doorknobs and light switches. It’s a quick confidence booster. When it comes to cleaning, I see a lot of people trust isopropyl alcohol for sanitizing surfaces, especially after someone sneezes or coughs.

How It Stacks Up Against Germs

Rubbing alcohol, usually 70% isopropyl, takes out a wide range of bacteria and viruses. One study from the Journal of Hospital Infection reported that 70% isopropyl wipes out most bacteria in less than a minute. The CDC also gives 60%–90% solutions a green light for disinfection. Germs don’t do well in this stuff – it disrupts their cell walls, causing a fast kill.

For devices, alcohol doesn’t soak in and leave moisture behind, so it works well on keyboards and phones. At my old job, our IT guy handed out pre-soaked alcohol wipes to anyone using shared equipment. Germs lose the battle pretty quick on plastic and metal surfaces cleaned with isopropyl.

The Limits Nobody Talks About

Despite all its strengths, isopropyl alcohol isn’t the fix for every germ or every corner of the home. It doesn’t stand up against all viruses, like norovirus, and it won’t take out bacterial spores. The CDC page even says not to use alcohol for sterilizing surgical tools, and I’ve seen professionals warn against it for cleaning certain child care surfaces where resistant germs might linger.

As a parent, I’ve watched isopropyl dry up sticky hands, only to realize it can turn skin raw if it’s overused. It strips away natural oils. On wood and painted surfaces, alcohol leaves streaks or damage, so I stick with soap and water for counters and tables. That comes from learning the hard way – I’ve ruined a few painted chairs.

Smart Ways to Use It — And Safer Ideas for Home

Strong cleaning starts with choosing the right method for each job. For electronics, isopropyl alcohol wipes out bacteria and evaporates before moisture sneaks into tiny seams. For cutting boards, sinks, or bathroom tiles, soap or a bleach-based product removes more types of germs and won’t leave sensitive surfaces faded or stripped.

Many times, quick fixes mix up “cleaning” and “disinfecting.” A quick swipe with alcohol looks like a deep clean, but on grimy surfaces, it leaves dirt behind. My best results come after scrubbing away debris first – then I reach for alcohol to wipe down high-touch spots.

For folks with chemical sensitivities or small kids, it’s important to look for alternatives that don’t sting or strip skin. Alcohol-free disinfectants, soap, and hot water keep hands healthy and still clean well when washing happens often.

What's Next for Household Disinfectants

While rubbing alcohol has plenty of uses, it isn’t the superhero in every cleaning story. It works best alongside other cleaners, not as a replacement. In hospitals, workers combine alcohol wipes with other disinfectants. At home, pairing regular cleaning with targeted disinfecting gives peace of mind and keeps everyone safer, without overdoing harsh chemicals.

What is the recommended concentration of isopropyl alcohol for cleaning?

Understanding What Works

Plenty of stores sell big jugs of isopropyl alcohol, but the numbers on those bottles sometimes stump people. You usually see 70% or 99% on the label. It’s easy to assume that more is better, but that’s not always true for cleaning jobs or making surfaces safer for hands, gadgets, or kitchen counters.

The Numbers Aren’t Just for Show

Scientists and doctors who study germs figured out that 70% isopropyl alcohol, sometimes called rubbing alcohol, works best for general cleaning and for killing off a pretty wide range of bacteria and viruses on hard surfaces. Here’s why: mixing water with the alcohol slows down how quickly the alcohol evaporates, so it has more time to break into germs and destroy them. Pure 99% alcohol tends to evaporate straight off anything you wipe, meaning less time for it to do its job.

Plenty of people in the medical field have stocked their supply shelves this way for decades. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists 70% isopropyl alcohol as a solid choice for surface disinfecting, and you see it in hospitals and clinics. I remember the sharp, clean smell of it in a doctor’s office, that burn of confidence you got when a nurse wiped your arm before a shot. At home, cleaning countertops or phone screens, I follow the same advice: aim for 70%. I can still picture my grandma pouring the clear liquid on kitchen rags when deep cleaning season rolled around.

Why Stronger Isn’t Always Better

Higher purity alcohol, like 91% or 99%, sees some use for cleaning electronics or dissolving sticky messes. In my experience, I reach for the 99% bottle to clean off old thermal paste from a computer processor, or to evaporate water from inside a damp phone. It dries super fast and doesn’t leave much behind, but that’s a tradeoff if you’re after germ removal.

70% does a better job soaking into cell walls and busting apart those germs because it sticks around long enough to be effective. Water actually helps alcohol jump into the cell structures of bacteria and viruses. I found out the hard way, scrubbing with 99% alcohol after a cold went around the house, that it just flashes off – smells strong, but leaves you with less real cleaning power.

Label Confusion and Mixing It Up

Sometimes, all you find in stores is 99%. It’s not a bad product, but it needs a little help for household or workplace disinfecting. It’s easy to mix it down to 70% with plain water. The rule is this: measure out two parts of 99% alcohol and add a little less than one part of water. For smaller batches, use cups or ounces, for bigger ones, use whatever you have on hand. Always use clean, filtered water.

Most antibacterial wipes on shelves also stick with the 60-70% range for a reason. Places like hospitals, hair salons, and even my own kitchen cleaning routine prove this recommendation holds up in real life. You get more reliable germ-killing, and you’re not wasting expensive pure alcohol where it’s not needed.

Better Cleaning, Fewer Myths

Making cleaning choices goes beyond grabbing the most expensive product with the highest number on the bottle. Science and decades of practice point to 70% isopropyl alcohol for a simple reason—it works. Families, schools, and workplaces all benefit from clarity about which strength really delivers, instead of wasting time or money on overkill that leaves behind less actual cleanliness. Pay attention to the label, mix your own if needed, and let good information—not just strong fumes—guide what you use.

Isopropyl Alcohol
Isopropyl Alcohol
Names
Preferred IUPAC name propan-2-ol
Other names 2-Propanol
Isopropanol
Propan-2-ol
Rubbing alcohol
sec-Propyl alcohol
IPA
Pronunciation /ˌaɪ.səˈproʊ.pɪl ˈæl.kə.hɒl/
Identifiers
CAS Number 67-63-0
3D model (JSmol) `3D model (JSmol)` string for **Isopropyl Alcohol**: ``` CC(O)C ```
Beilstein Reference 1718732
ChEBI CHEBI:17790
ChEMBL CHEMBL: CHEMBL15536
ChemSpider 6766
DrugBank DB00898
ECHA InfoCard 100000012562
EC Number 200-661-7
Gmelin Reference 715
KEGG C03366
MeSH D007533
PubChem CID 3776
RTECS number NT8050000
UNII NT0PKR9ATM
UN number UN1219
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) DTXSID7020564
Properties
Chemical formula C3H8O
Molar mass 60.1 g/mol
Appearance Colorless, clear, volatile liquid with a slight odor
Odor Sweetish, alcoholic
Density 0.786 g/cm³
Solubility in water miscible
log P 0.05
Vapor pressure 33 mmHg (20°C)
Acidity (pKa) 16.5
Basicity (pKb) 16.5
Magnetic susceptibility (χ) '-62.2×10⁻⁶ cgs'
Refractive index (nD) 1.377
Viscosity 2.43 mPa·s
Dipole moment 1.66 D
Thermochemistry
Std molar entropy (S⦵298) 130.6 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹
Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) -318.0 kJ/mol
Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) -2010 kJ·mol⁻¹
Pharmacology
ATC code D08AX08
Hazards
Pictograms GHS02, GHS07
Signal word Danger
Precautionary statements P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P261, P264, P271, P280, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P337+P313, P370+P378, P403+P235, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) 2-3-0
Flash point 53°F (12°C)
Autoignition temperature 399 °C (750 °F)
Explosive limits 2% - 12%
Lethal dose or concentration LD50 oral rat: 5,045 mg/kg
LD50 (median dose) LD50 (median dose): 5045 mg/kg (oral, rat)
NIOSH NT8050000
PEL (Permissible) 400 ppm
REL (Recommended) 400 ppm
IDLH (Immediate danger) 2000 ppm
Related compounds
Related compounds Methanol
Ethanol
n-Propanol
Butanol
Acetone
Diisopropyl ether