Science Journal

Difference Between Ethyl and Isopropyl Alcohol

While me and my friends were at a bar we talked about what we are drinking, a liquor. How different types of alcoholic beverages affects the body and what does it contains. When the latter question was raised I told them it has ethyl in it. Their faces went scowled and raised eyebrows depicting they were skeptics on what I have said. It is like I told them a wolf is not a dog which is actually true but they cannot fathom how. They thought that ethyl alcohol is the rubbing alcohol, but I argued that it is not, it is rather an isopropyl alcohol while ethyl is the consumable compound found in alcoholic beverages. They still did not believe me because they have seen a rubbing alcohol that contains both of the said compounds. But honestly that time, I did not the difference between Ethyl and Isopropyl. What I know was ethyl is for drinking alcohol while isopropyl is for toxic rubbing alcohol. So I widen my knowledge about it through Google search.

And damn I was half right. Isopropyl is indeed toxic but ethyl can be also one of the rubbing alcohol's ingredients. Ethyl alcohol (C2-H6-O) is produced by a yeast. The yeast consumes some kind of sugar and starch and converts it into carbon dioxide and alcohol. I wish I have that kind of ability. Ability to convert donuts, candies and other sweets I consumed into alcohol and release it through urination then sell it to the market that might lead me to the road to success. Disgusting I know but worth it. Anyway, in the process of winemaking, the yeasts eat the sugar in grape's or any fruit's juice, therefore, creating alcohol. In whiskey, the alcohol is distilled to get the concentration higher. But rubbing alcohol with pure ethyl in it is in fact still safe to drink but a poisonous chemical component is required to be added to prevent the drunkard from drinking it and avoid sin taxes. Because if rubbing alcohol is pure ethyl, people would start buying alcohol in a drug store which might lead the wine and liquor company go bankrupt.

In the other hand, Isopropyl alcohol (C3-H8-O) derived from propene which originated from fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum or natural gas. It is typically used to kill germs and commonly found in soaps, shampoos, and cleaners among other things. But unlike ethyl, it is inherently toxic. It can cause illness or death if ingested unintentionally or intentionally by impulsive gullible young people.

But both ethyl and isopropyl alcohol are sold as antiseptics and are flammable. It can annihilate microorganisms by denaturing proteins and dissolving the lipid or fat contents of most bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Which is weird for me because if alcohol can dissolve the fat how come the walking alcoholic fat bacteria which is my friend, still fat? How? Kidding. Alcohol does not work that way.

So in conclusion, ethyl alcohol is suitable for drinking while isopropyl is toxic when ingested but can be both used as a cleaning agent.