Structure and uses of alcohols
Sr. Name and Structure Uses
No.
1. Ethyl alcohol (Ethanol- 1. It is a universal solvent used in various industrial and
C2H5OH) laboratory processes.
2. Ethanol is used in medical wipes and most commonly in
CH3-CH2-OH
antibacterial hand sanitizer gels as an antiseptic for its
bactericidal and anti-fungal effects
3. Ethanol may be administered as an antidote to methanol
and ethylene glycol poisoning.
4. Ethanol is used as a medicinal solvent to dissolve many
water-insoluble medications and related compounds.
Liquid preparations of pain medications, cough and
cold medicines, and mouth washes, for example, may
contain up to 25% ethanol
5. It is as an engine fuel and fuel additive. Ethanol has
been used as rocket fuel and is currently in lightweight
rocket-powered racing aircraft.
6. It has widespread use as a precursor for other organic
compounds such as ethyl halides, ethyl esters, diethyl
ether, acetic acid, and ethyl amines.
7. Ethanol is found in paints, tinctures, markers, and
personal care products such as mouthwashes,
perfumes and deodorants.
8. It is used for purification of DNA and RNA.
9. It is a major solvent used for extraction of
phytoconstituents from herbs.
10. It is used in the preparation of essences, flavourings
and perfumes.
2. Chlorobutanol 1. It is a preservative, sedative, hypnotic and weak local
anaesthetic similar in nature to chloral hydrate.
(1,1,1-Trichloro-2- 2. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties.
methylpropan-2-ol)
3. Chlorobutanol is typically used at a concentration of
0.5% where it lends long term stability to multi-
ingredient formulations. However, it retains
antimicrobial activity at 0.05% in water.
4. Chlorobutanol has been used in anesthesia and
euthanasia of invertebrates and fishes.
3. Cetosteryl alcohol 1. It is used as an emulsion stabilizer, opacifying agent,
Cetostearyl alcohol, cetearyl and foam boosting surfactant, as well as an aqueous
alcohol or cetylstearyl and non aqueous viscosity-increasing agent.
alcohol is a mixture of fatty
2. It imparts an emollient feel to the skin and can be used
alcohols, consisting
predominantly of cetyl (16 in water-in-oil emulsions, oil-in-water emulsions, and
C) and stearyl alcohols (18 anhydrous formulations.
C) and is classified as a fatty 3. It is commonly used in hair conditioners and other hair
alcohol. products.
n= 14-16
4. Benzyl alcohol 1. It is used as a bacteriostatic preservative at low
C6H5CH2OH concentration in intravenous medications, cosmetics,
and topical drugs.
2. It is a precursor to a variety of esters and ethers, used
in the soap, perfume, and flavor industries.
3. A 10 % solution of benzyl alcohol can be used as a
local anaesthetia.
4. Its 5% solutions can be used to treat head lice.
5. It is a common ingredient of soaps, shampoos and
skin lotion because of its antifungal and antibacterial
properties.
6. It can be utilized as a degreaser in rug cleaning
products.
7. Benzyl alcohol is used as a general solvent for inks,
waxes, shellacs, paints, lacquers, and epoxy resin
coatings.
8. It finds use as photographic film developer and insect
repellent.
5. Glycerol (Propane-1,2,3- 1. Glycerol is nontoxic and an excellent humectant.
triol, CH2OH-CHOH- 2. Glycerin is mildly antimicrobial and antiviral and is an
CH2OH) FDA approved treatment for wounds
3. It is used in bakery products, hand lotions, vanishing
creams, shaving soaps and tooth pastes.
4. Glycerol is used in productions of plastics, synthetic
fibres and surface coatings.
5. Glycerol is also used in blood banking to preserve red
blood cells prior to freezing.
6. Glycerin, along with propylene glycol, is a common
component of e-liquid, a solution used with electronic
vaporizers
7. It is used as laxative in form of suppositories.
8. It is given by I.V. route to reduce the pressure inside
the brain viz stroke.
9. Glycerol is used to produce nitroglycerine which is
commonly used to relieve angina pectoris.
10. Glycerol is used to produce nitroglycerin, which is
an essential ingredient of various explosives such as
dynamite, gelignite, and propellants like cordite.
6. Propylene glycol 1. Propylene glycol is commonly used drug solubilizer in
(Propane-1,2-diol ; CH3- topical,oral and injectable medications.
CHOH-CH2OH) 2. It is used as stabilizer for vitamins and as a water
miscible cosolvent.
3. Used as moisturizer in cosmetic products and as a
dispersant in fragrance.
4. Used in industries as a heat transfer medium.
5. It is used as aircraft de-icing fluid
6. It is used as humectant and food preservative.
7. It is used in artificial tear formulations eg Systane.
8. 45% of propylene glycol produced is used for the
production of unsaturated polyester resins. (preparation
of polymers)
9. Propylene glycol is also used in various edible items
such as coffee-based drinks, liquid sweeteners, ice
cream, whipped dairy products and soda.
10. In veterinary medicine as an oral treatment for
hyperketonaemia in ruminants.
11. For the creation of theatrical smoke and fog in
special effects for film and live entertainment.
12. For trapping and preserving insects
