Rubbing alcohol
Overview
Rubbing alcohol, USP
/ B.P.
is a liquid prepared and used primarily for topical
application. It is prepared from a special denatured alcohol solution and contains 97.5-100% by volume of pure, concentrated ethanol
(ethyl alcohol) or isopropyl alcohol
(isopropanol). Individual manufacturers can use their own "formulation standards" in which the ethanol content usually ranges from 70-99% v/v. In the UK the equivalent skin preparation is surgical spirit which is always an ethyl alcohol-isopropyl alcohol mixture.
The term "rubbing alcohol" has become a general non-specific term for either isopropyl alcohol
(isopropanol) or ethyl alcohol
(ethanol) rubbing-alcohol products.
Rubbing alcohol is a cellular, volatile
, and flammable liquid
.
United States Pharmacopeia
The United States Pharmacopeia is the official pharmacopeia of the United States, published dually with the National Formulary as the USP-NF. The United States Pharmacopeial Convention is the nonprofit organization that owns the trademark and copyright to the USP-NF and publishes it every year...
/ B.P.
British Pharmacopoeia
The British Pharmacopoeia is an annual published collection of quality standards for UK medicinal substances. It is used by individuals and organizations involved in pharmaceutical research, development, manufacture and testing....
is a liquid prepared and used primarily for topical
Topical
In medicine, a topical medication is applied to body surfaces such as the skin or mucous membranes such as the vagina, anus, throat, eyes and ears.Many topical medications are epicutaneous, meaning that they are applied directly to the skin...
application. It is prepared from a special denatured alcohol solution and contains 97.5-100% by volume of pure, concentrated ethanol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
(ethyl alcohol) or isopropyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol is a common name for a chemical compound with the molecular formula C3H8O. It is a colorless, flammable chemical compound with a strong odor...
(isopropanol). Individual manufacturers can use their own "formulation standards" in which the ethanol content usually ranges from 70-99% v/v. In the UK the equivalent skin preparation is surgical spirit which is always an ethyl alcohol-isopropyl alcohol mixture.
The term "rubbing alcohol" has become a general non-specific term for either isopropyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol is a common name for a chemical compound with the molecular formula C3H8O. It is a colorless, flammable chemical compound with a strong odor...
(isopropanol) or ethyl alcohol
Ethanol
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. Best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, it is also used in thermometers, as a...
(ethanol) rubbing-alcohol products.
Rubbing alcohol is a cellular, volatile
Volatility (chemistry)
In chemistry and physics, volatility is the tendency of a substance to vaporize. Volatility is directly related to a substance's vapor pressure. At a given temperature, a substance with higher vapor pressure vaporizes more readily than a substance with a lower vapor pressure.The term is primarily...
, and flammable liquid
Liquid
Liquid is one of the three classical states of matter . Like a gas, a liquid is able to flow and take the shape of a container. Some liquids resist compression, while others can be compressed. Unlike a gas, a liquid does not disperse to fill every space of a container, and maintains a fairly...
.
