Hello,

If my memory of organic chemistry serves me correctly isopropanol is propan-2-ol where the -OH alcohol group is attached to the second carbon atom in a chain of three, as opposed to propan-1-ol (which is the same as propan-3-ol) where the -OH group is attached the first (or last) carbon atom in the chain.

When I work in hospital labs I see a lot of isopropanol about. Isopropanol pre-injection swabs, squeezy bottles of isopropanol, isopropanol cleaning wipes etc.

What is this obsession with isopropanol? Why doesn't anyone use propan-1-ol? Is isopropanol easier and/or cheaper to make? Does it dissolve more stuff? Does it sterilise things better? Is it less toxic? Does it evaporate quicker or slower? Is there a non-trivial reason for the use of propan-2-ol over 1-ol or am I just wondering about all this for nothing?

clop

Easier to make. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isoprop...hol#Production

"These processes give predominantly isopropyl alcohol rather than 1-propanol because the addition of water or sulfuric acid to propylene follows Markovnikov's rule."

About the same toxicity, as I understand it. Isopropyl alcohol evaporates quicker than n-propyl alcohol, because it's a rounder molecule with lower intermolecular forces, and therefore has a lower boiling point. If anything, that makes it less good as an antibacterial for skin preparation, because it leaves the skin so quickly. So I'm guessing ease of production is the deciding feature.

Grant Hutchison

Ineffective and out-of-date!

The recommended skin-prep before any invasive procedure is now chlorhexidine 2% in either isopropanol or water. See: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...1/ai_n9324398/

For wide skin prep, such as pre-surgery, water is to be preferred as alcohols are inflammable.

John

Indeed. I have a colleague who refers to the customary quick skin wipe with isopropyl before intravenous cannulation as "the voodoo swab".

Grant Hutchison

Irrelevant for the question asked.

__________________
‘To those who regard “crime fiction” as some sacred icon which must follow a rigid formula, I will always be the man who writes 18-syllable haiku.’Trying to make sense of computers, The Error Log.

Oh, go and boil your head, Olsen.
Threads drift, like conversations.

JOhn

I like that it evaporates quickly, because it stings when they poke you if it's still there.

__________________
"What you think you thought you saw you did not see." Agent J, MiB - Manhatten Bureau

It stings when they poke me, no matter what! (I can't stand the feeling of metal inside me like that--I have to turn stoic with every injection/tapping).

__________________
-----
Todd (Bowie, MD, US, North America, Earth, Sol System, Vega region, Local Bubble, Orion arm, Milky Way Galaxy, Local Group, Virgo A Cluster, Virgo supercluster, the universe in which spock is clean shaven)

Quidquid latine dictum sit, altum sonatur.

personal page: http://blog.astrosketches.info

It makesa good thinner for Acrylic paints used in Airbrushes. Tamiya will sell you a small bottle of it with their brand on it for the same price as a litre of iso.

__________________
All Moderation in Purple
To report a post (even this one) to the moderation team, click the reporting icon in the upper-right corner of the post:
─────────────────────────────────────────────
◄Rules For Posting To This Board ► ◄Forum FAQs ► ◄ Conspiracy Theory Advice ► ◄ Alternate Theory Advice ►

I like the color blue.

__________________
‘To those who regard “crime fiction” as some sacred icon which must follow a rigid formula, I will always be the man who writes 18-syllable haiku.’Trying to make sense of computers, The Error Log.

__________________
All Moderation in Purple
To report a post (even this one) to the moderation team, click the reporting icon in the upper-right corner of the post:
─────────────────────────────────────────────
◄Rules For Posting To This Board ► ◄Forum FAQs ► ◄ Conspiracy Theory Advice ► ◄ Alternate Theory Advice ►

"Boil your head"?
As an expression of exasperation at impenetrable pettifogging literalism?
Please may we have a list of words and expressions that in common conversation may be tolerated but which here are not?
OR else an American-English mild insult dictionary?

When the Prime Minister of the UK has told his own party's Euro MPs to 'boil their heads' (he was one that had to put up with a lot of impenetrable pettifogging) http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ma...s-1358075.html
OR
is equivalent to "Shut up and go away" http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=t...esult&resnum=9
OR
was used by that well known and highly literate critic Bernard Levin as long ago as 1972: http://www.aam.co.uk/index.htm (third para)

does it gain in insult and offence by crossing the Atlantic?
So it would seem, as the same google search found refs from that side that made it equivalent to being told to procreate with oneself, or to procreate and leave.

I protest! And I appeal! Is there a higher court of moderators?

John

John I think I know what you mean.

The Father Christmas who sits on the last float in the Adelaide Christmas Pageant Parade is no longer allowed to shout, "Ho! Ho! Ho!"

For the last two years he has had to shout, "Ha! Ha! Ha!"

The city council didn't want to offend any Americans present in the crowd.

__________________
At night the stars put on a show for free (Carole King)

One Earth, One Sky - IYA 2009
All moderation in purple

__________________
All Moderation in Purple
To report a post (even this one) to the moderation team, click the reporting icon in the upper-right corner of the post:
─────────────────────────────────────────────
◄Rules For Posting To This Board ► ◄Forum FAQs ► ◄ Conspiracy Theory Advice ► ◄ Alternate Theory Advice ►

Nice PM from Henrik, pricking my bubble.
We are friends and I am contrite.

john

And graceful.

Grant Hutchison