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Thread ID: 80258 2007-06-17 05:19:00 What is ETHANOL heaton (3697) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
559947 2007-06-17 05:19:00 I have a recipe for a microscope stain which requires an item 95% ethanol. Any chemistry students out there who can tell me what it is and where to get it. heaton (3697)
559948 2007-06-17 05:29:00 Ethanol = the alcohol present in alcoholic beverages, in a pure form. For scientific purposes it is usually extracted from petroleum products, while food-grade ethanol is extracted from plant material.

"Normal" people generally can't just walk off the street and buy it due to regulatory controls. You may be able to buy small quantities of it at your local chemist, though it will probably contain other additives to prevent you from using it in certain ways. Companies and organisations which have ethanol stored are required to keep stringent tabs on what it's been used for, who took it out of the chemical safe, etc.

If this is for some sort of a school/university project, then you should talk to your teacher as they should have ethanol stored somewhere.
somebody (208)
559949 2007-06-17 06:16:00 the first 50-100mls from my still is ethanol, usually just chuck it in the motorbike, or use it for window cleaner plod (107)
559950 2007-06-17 06:19:00 It is also what F1 cars run on. Very powerful and clean burning. winmacguy (3367)
559951 2007-06-17 06:50:00 Ethanol has a low boiling point, so when you accidentally spill a small amount onto yourself, you will feel a stinging cold on your skin.

A friend of mine once had it on her eyes. There wasn't enough time for her to get rid of it at the water-shower station because it evaporated too quickly. :p

Cheers :)
Renmoo (66)
559952 2007-06-17 07:47:00 The flame from it burns clear so you can't see it either. winmacguy (3367)
559953 2007-06-17 10:02:00 the first 50-100mls from my still is ethanol, usually just chuck it in the motorbike, or use it for window cleaner

The 1st 50-100mls will be methanol. The whole point of a still is to get ethanol.
PaulD (232)
559954 2007-06-17 10:15:00 The 1st 50-100mls will be methanol. The whole point of a still is to get ethanol.

My mistake, got things backwards. Still new to the brewing. prefer the drinking to the making
plod (107)
559955 2007-06-17 10:20:00 It is also what F1 cars run on. Very powerful and clean burning.

F1 cars run on petrol with additives, US racing like Indy cars run on Methanol.
PaulD (232)
559956 2007-06-17 10:24:00 I have a recipe for a microscope stain which requires an item 95% ethanol. Any chemistry students out there who can tell me what it is and where to get it.
A chemist should sell it to you in suitably small quantities, ask for Rectified Spirit. I buy it to get pure ethanol for topping up test solutions for breath acohol machines.

It is the only readily available form of pure ethanol that I know of, and I had to search to find it. Grain Alcohol is another name, but is a slightly different product I think.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
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