Rubbing Alcohol Ingestion

Alcohols are organic compounds derived from hydrocarbons (organic compounds of carbon and hydrogen). They are formed by replacing hydrogen atoms in their hydrocarbon parent with one or more hydroxyl groups. Each hydroxyl group (-OH) is composed of one oxygen atom and a hydrogen atom and is regarded as a functional group. The functional groups generally determine how a molecule behaves. Alcohols containing a hydroxyl group such as methanol, ethanol and propanol.

Alcohols are named for their parent hydrocarbons by substituting the suffix-ol for the final-e. For example, ethane is ethanol, methanol, methane and propane becomes propanol. The low molecular weight alcohol which is determined by the number of carbon atoms, the more soluble (or it may be to dissolve) in water. A greater number of hydroxyl groups (-OH) also increases solubility in water because hydrogen bonds can form between the alcohol molecules and water molecules. As the number of carbon atoms in an alcohol, hydrogen bonding is disturbed and its solubility in water decreases. Hydrogen bonding is also a factor for determining the boiling points of alcohols. Hydrogen bonds can form between hydrogen and oxygen atoms in neighboring molecules of water and alcohol. When alcohols are heated, the energy required to break these bonds determines the boiling point. The hydroxyl groups plus one molecule of alcohol, the higher its boiling point.

Methanol (methyl alcohol) is the simplest alcohol. Also known as wood alcohol, it was originally produced by heating hardwood high temperatures without air (called destructive distillation). Today, methanol is produced from natural or synthetic gas from synthesis gas. Syngas is a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane produced when heated, crushed coal is treated with superheated steam in a process called coal gasification. Methanol occupies an important place in the industry. It is used in the synthesis of organic chemicals such as formaldehyde (based on different polymers composed of repeating structural units), acetic acid, ether and methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE, an additive that increases the oxygen content of gasoline [the number used to measure the antiknock properties of a liquid fuel]). Methanol is also used as antifreeze in the windshield washer fluid. It can be used directly as fuel to replace gasoline, but it evaporates quickly and its use requires significant modifications to the motor car. This alcohol is extremely toxic and can cause illness and blindness if swallowed.

Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) is best known as the active ingredient in alcoholic beverages. It is produced by fermentation (or chemical) changes of sugars and starches in fruits and some plants, using techniques that were developed there for thousands of years. In fact, ancient Egyptian papyrus scrolls exist with instructions for making beer from dates and other food plants. During fermentation, glucose and other sugars in fruits, vegetables, honey, or cereal such as barley are converted into alcohol through the action of yeast. Ethanol is also known as grain alcohol or simply alcohol. Both of beer (usually from barley and hops flavored) and wine (from grapes and other fruits) are products of fermentation. Ethanol is one of the least toxic of the alcohols, but only if ingested in its pure form, poisoning and even death can occur.

Ethanol is also very important in the industry. It is used in the synthesis of many organic chemicals and solvent in the preparation of essences, dyes, varnishes, and food extracts such as vanilla. In addition, it is used as an ingredient in perfumes, dyes, and as an antiseptic for the skin. Ethanol is produced for industrial use by chemically adding water to ethylene, a process.