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Why is alcohol 70 percent?

Updated: 9/24/2023
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9y ago

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Isopropyl rubbing alcohol is usually around 70% (by volume) because this is the optimum concentration for its action as a disinfectant. At lower concentrations it is not as effective. However at higher concentrations its effectiveness declines because of the way in which it works. Alcohol kills cells in the target organisms by causing the coagulation of proteins which it contacts. If very strong alcohol is used then it penetrates the cell wall of the organism and coagulates the proteins which are immediately inside the cell wall and this mass of coagulated protein protects the inner parts of the cell from the alcohol. Then, if conditions improve, the cell can recover. Alcohol which is less concentrated works in the same way but because it coagulates the proteins more slowly, more of the alcohol is able to penetrate deeper into the cell and so is more effective in destroying the cell.

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7y ago
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Q: Why is alcohol 70 percent?
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Why 70 percent ethyl alcohol is used rather than 90 percent or 95 percent?

70% alcohol has been found to be more effective in killing microbes.Higher and lower concentration may not be as effective.90% alcohol coagulate proteins in contact.suppose 90% alcohol is poured over one celled organism,the alcohol penetrate the cellwall of the organism.the coagulated protein would then prevent the alcohol further from the cell and no more coagulation then take place.now,if 70% alcohol is added into one celled organism.The diluted alcohol also coagulates the protein, but at a slower rate,so that it penetrates all the cell before coagulation.Then all the cell coagulated and the organism died.


Can you use 70 percent alcohol on penis?

I personally just put some 65% ethyl alcohol hand sanitizer on mine, and it burnt really bad for a minute or two. 70% probably won't kill you. Feelin' so fresh!


What is 70 percent alcohol and what is 95 percent alcohol which is better to use and why?

70% alcohol means in hundred parts of it, 70 parts are pure alcohol, rest is water. 95% means 95 parts of pure alcohol in 100 parts, so 5 parts of water. It depends on the usage. As a solvent, 95% would be preferred. As antiseptic, both can be used, 75% being more common as medicinal spirit. For consumption, fairly dilute concentrations are preferred. Above 43% are rare so both the above concentrations are dangerous for consumption.


Is the percent of ocean on earth 70 percent or 75 percent?

70%