Does anyone know if Rubbing Alcohol can be substituted for Ethanol as a solvent?
- posted
13 years ago
Does anyone know if Rubbing Alcohol can be substituted for Ethanol as a solvent?
Depends on what you are solving, but mostly no. It has a lot of water and does not work as well. Typical drugstore isopropyl has from 10% to 30% water.
I'd think unless you're doing an organic chemistry lab experiment, it would be close enough. If you're using it for cleaning purposes, you're probably not using 95.6% EtOH anyway...
Maybe. Not enough info to answer yes or no.
It is to dissolve shellac, the recipe calls for ethanol, or denatured alcohol (whatever that is).
In the usa rubbing alcohol is Isopropyl alcohol. It is a heavy molecule and typically has a high water content. It should work as long as you get the 90% kind. It may take longer to dry though due to the heavier molecule and the water content. Denatured alcohol is white lightning with some meth mixed in. All alcohols are skin adsorbent. Especially the 90% kind. So be careful.
I seem to recall reading somewhere that most rubbing alcohols contain lotion or oil.
PB
Use the denatured alcohol - you should be able to find it at the hardware store. Denatured alcohol is simply alcohol that has been made unfit to drink. *hic*
Thanks to all who answered, most helpful advice.
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