The main difference ethyl alcohol from other types of such substances is its suitability for ingestion. Other types of alcohols have properties that are more or less toxic to humans, so the ability to distinguish between their types will minimize the risk of chemical poisoning. The greatest danger of all types of inedible alcohols is methyl, due to its cheapness, prevalence and similarity in taste and smell with ethanol. Other types of alcohols (for example, isopropyl) are less common, but due to their similarity to food alcohol and toxic effects on the body, they also pose a considerable danger.
Knowing the main differences between common types of alcohol and ethyl alcohol will help minimize the health risks of drinking alcoholic beverages.
The danger of methyl alcohol
It is worth knowing that methanol does not differ from alcohol in color, taste and smell.
To distinguish drinking alcohol non-drinking people are required to conduct appropriate research, which is not always done. Very often, based on the belief that it was edible alcohol that was purchased, this substance is ingested. The result will be severe poisoning, and in the absence of medical care - death.
In addition to knowing how to distinguish ethyl alcohol from methyl alcohol and in general, you will need to have information about the main effects of methanol on the body, know the symptoms of poisoning and the means of primary care.
The use of vodka with methyl alcohol causes the following effects on the body:
- bilateral inflammation of the optic nerve, which can cause blindness;
- defeat of the central nervous system;
- defeat urinary systems s;
- destructive effect on the protein structures of the body, metabolic disorders.
Shortly after the use of this substance, the following symptoms appear:
- nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain;
- blurred consciousness;
- blurred vision ("flies" before the eyes);
- headache;
- dizziness;
- increased salivation;
- an increase and then a sharp drop in blood pressure.
Thus, if steps have not been taken to distinguish methanol from ethyl alcohol, some time after the substance enters the body, more severe consequences develop. The time of onset of such manifestations will depend on the amount of poisonous substance that has entered the body.
These manifestations include the following:
- visual impairment up to complete blindness;
- the appearance of pain in the legs and head;
- superficial alcoholic coma: impaired speech, gagging, lowering body temperature, spontaneous urination;
deep alcoholic coma: swelling of the eyelids, dilated pupils, lack of response to painful stimuli, respiratory failure, manifestation of convulsions and tachycardia.
Attention!
In the absence of medical attention and in case of consumption of a significant amount methyl alcohol death may occur.
How to distinguish methyl alcohol from ethyl alcohol at home
There are several ways to distinguish food alcohol from technical alcohol at home. Each of them, provided that the experiment is carried out correctly, makes it possible to distinguish good alcohol from bad alcohol with a sufficiently high probability. With the same results of several types of tests, it is possible to determine the type of substance with a high probability.
These methods include the following.
flame color
One of the most simple means, allowing to distinguish drinking alcohol from technical, is its ignition. For ethanol, the color of the flame will have a bluish tint, and for methanol it will be greenish.
Reaction with potatoes
When a peeled potato is placed in a container with alcohol, the type of substance can be determined by the change in color of the vegetable. For the reaction to proceed, it is necessary to keep the potatoes in alcohol for at least two hours. In the event that the color of the potato changes to pink, this indicates methanol.
Boiling temperature
Another way to distinguish technical alcohol is to control its boiling point. Ethanol boils at a temperature of 78 °C, and methyl - already at 64 °C.
Reaction with baking soda
When mixed with ethanol, baking soda produces an insoluble yellowish precipitate. Methyl alcohol, when soda is dissolved in it, remains transparent.
Reaction with potassium permanganate
It is also possible to distinguish medical alcohol if you add a little potassium permanganate to it. In the case of ethanol, this will not cause any visible reaction. The reaction of methyl alcohol will proceed with the release of gas and the smell of formalin.
Formaldehyde test
This method, which allows you to distinguish drinking alcohol from methanol, is considered the most reliable.
To carry it out, it is necessary to lower a red-hot copper wire into the investigated alcohol. If this results in a strong smell of formaldehyde, then you have methyl alcohol. Ethanol in this reaction gives off the smell of apple cider vinegar.
Lang test
For this method to distinguish technical alcohol from medical alcohol, potassium permanganate is required, as well as a small container in which alcohol can be heated.
For the study, you will need to dilute 0.2 g of potassium permanganate in 2 ml of distilled water. Then we heat 50 ml of alcohol to 18 ° C, pour a solution of potassium permanganate into it and note the time the color of the solution changes from purple to pink. If it took 10 minutes or more, then most likely you have ethyl alcohol in front of you.
Thus, the question of whether it is possible to distinguish methyl alcohol from ethyl alcohol can be answered positively.
How to distinguish other types of alcohols
There are many poisonous and toxic alcohols among them, so it is simply necessary to be able to distinguish them from each other, as well as to distinguish them from other substances with similar characteristics.
How to distinguish isopropyl alcohol from ethyl alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol does not pose the same level of danger as methyl alcohol, but when consumed in large quantities will also have negative influence on the body. The main reason for the harmful effects of this type of alcohol is the release of acetone during its breakdown in the liver. Also, the chemical composition of this substance causes a sharper onset of intoxication, which lasts much longer than after drinking ethanol.
Isopropyl alcohol can be distinguished from ethyl alcohol by several criteria:
- smell: sharp, bitter, reminiscent of the smell of disinfectants;
- taste: sweetish-bitter.
How to distinguish chacha from diluted alcohol
It will be much easier to distinguish chacha from diluted alcohol. Since chacha is actually distilled wine, such a product will differ significantly from diluted alcohol both in smell and taste.
Chacha has a rather mild aroma and taste, in contrast to the sharp characteristic taste of alcohol. So even if you try once real drink, it will be easy to distinguish real chacha from diluted alcohol.
How to distinguish vodka from alcohol
Distinguishing vodka from alcohol will be somewhat more difficult. AT this case it all depends on the quality of the product. Quite often, cheap vodka is nothing more than just diluted alcohol, so there can be no difference in this case.
Quality vodka has enough mild taste and smell, which is different from a banal solution of alcohol and water. But this only applies to expensive brands. In the case of cheap vodka, there will be no differences for the reason that this is most likely diluted alcohol.
How to distinguish moonshine from alcohol
To distinguish moonshine from alcohol, it is desirable to have an idea about the smell of artisanal alcohol and medical alcohol. Basically, moonshine has an aroma with notes of the raw materials from which it is made, and also has a residue smell to a certain extent. fusel oils. The smell of pure alcohol has no such impurities. Therefore, in order to be able to distinguish moonshine from diluted alcohol, it is desirable to have an idea about the characteristic smell of home-made alcohol.
How to distinguish alpha alcohol from luxury alcohol
Distinguishing alpha alcohol from luxury alcohol is much more difficult. These brands of alcohols are quite close according to GOSTs and belong to the products of the highest degree of purification. By smell and taste, without having the appropriate experience, it is virtually impossible to distinguish between these two types of alcohol.
How to distinguish alcohol from phenol
In some cases, it is also required to be able to distinguish alcohols from phenols. In everyday life, phenolic compounds in pure form are quite rare, but due to the high danger of such substances for health and life, it is necessary to be able to determine them by organoleptic characteristics.
The main indicator of the presence of a large amount of phenol in any solution is a clearly perceptible smell of gouache. Since this paint contains a significant amount of phenol, it is with it that the smell of this substance is associated.
Phenol is a toxic substance. Its entry into the body causes severe burns of internal organs, disruption of the nervous, cardiovascular, urinary systems. At high concentrations, either in large numbers hit results in death.
To what chemical property distinguishes alcohols from phenols, one can attribute its much less pronounced acidic properties.
How to tell a ketone from an alcohol
The need to separate the ketone from alcohol at home is most likely not required. At the same time, it is worth knowing that ketones, due to the characteristics chemical composition are much more volatile. In particular, most substances of this group have a boiling point of about 52 degrees.
How to distinguish alcohol from acid
How to distinguish alcohol from acid characteristic odor the latter, and by its reaction with various substances, for example, metals. Alcohols, unlike acids, upon contact with a metal, do not form new compounds, which is expressed in a change in the color of the metal surface, and in the case of high concentration acids - the destruction of the metal.
Medical alcohol is completely identical to technical alcohol in terms of such qualities as smell and color. However, there is an important difference between them. The composition of the technical contains methyl - a substance that can cause severe poisoning and cause death. Unlike technical alcohol, the main component in medical alcohol is ethyl, which is also a poison, but still its use in moderate doses does not cause such terrible consequences. In the article we will tell in detail about what ethyl alcohol, medical alcohol is.
Medical alcohol is one of the few subspecies of ethanol that has a monoatomic structure. The composition of medical ethyl alcohol consists of four percent water and ninety-six percent alcohol.
Thanks to this composition, medical alcohol has become widespread. It is used not only for medical purposes, but also for industrial purposes. Very often it is used internally, but for this it is required to dilute it. Ethanol alcohol has the appearance of a clear liquid and is sold at any pharmacy. The dosage can be from one hundred milligrams and above.
Ethanol at standard conditions volatile, flammable, colorless transparent liquid
For its manufacture, only food raw materials are used. Typically these products are:
- potato;
- barley;
- oats;
- corn.
Very often, experts are forced to answer the question: medical alcohol and ethyl alcohol, is there a difference? To an ordinary person, the difference between these two compositions is not noticeable. Both compositions have the same formula, but are made from different natural ingredients. The ethyl compound is also used in alcohol. So, to create wine, a composition based on grapes or berries is used.
The technical type of alcohol is made using a special technology, when the active substance undergoes a decomposition process as a result of treatment with water. Some varieties of wood and petroleum products can act as an active substance. In most cases, the resulting type of alcohol is used as a fuel or solvent.
Wine, ethyl, medical - compositions in which the main active substance is ethyl. Despite the fact that all these species have the same structure, they undergo different degrees of purification. Medical alcohol is a solution that has the most a high degree purification, and this is the reason for its widespread use. It can be easily diluted with substances such as:
- water;
- glycerol;
- acetic acid.
Ethyl alcohol is used as a fuel, as a solvent, as a filler in alcohol thermometers, and as a disinfectant.
Application
In most cases, such a solution is used in medicine and is used for disinfection. However, very often, using this basis, homemade alcohol.
In medicine, alcohol solutions are used as:
- Antiseptic. For the treatment of scratches, cuts and other wounds.
- A substance that has disinfectant properties. Treatment with such a composition destroys up to ninety-seven percent of all existing bacteria and infections on the skin.
- Anesthesia. Under field conditions of surgical intervention.
- The main component used when creating tinctures.
- Very often medical alcohol is used when creating compresses and antipyretics.
- The drug is used as one of the main components ventilation procedures(Artificial Lung Ventilation).
Using alcohol as a disinfectant, they treat skin lesions, surgical instruments, and even surgical fields. To do this, a cotton swab is abundantly moistened in liquid and applied to the desired area.
In case of poisoning, technical alcohol can become a fairly effective antidote. Of all the types based on ethanol, only medical alcohol is suitable for these purposes. Timely ingestion can reduce the concentration of toxins in the body.
There are 2 main methods for producing ethanol - microbiological (alcohol fermentation) and synthetic (ethylene hydration).
Alcohol, which has an ethyl base, is one of the indispensable substances in medicine. Each medical manipulation involves its use. However, to achieve different goals, a different strength of the substance is used, it can be forty, seventy and ninety percent.
Ethyl alcohol is a versatile product used in many industries. Alcoholic drinks, kvass, kefir and even non-alcoholic beer are created on its basis. However, in fermented milk products its concentration does not exceed one tenth of a percent. That is why the use of such products does not harm the body. Very often, the solution is used as a preservative in the manufacture of confectionery and bakery products.
Rubbing alcohol is often consumed by people suffering from alcohol addiction. Since the purchase of the drug does not require a doctor's prescription, it has become widespread among people with this addiction. The use of medical alcohol in its pure form can cause a burn of the throat and the mucous membrane of the stomach. Ingestion of medical alcohol must be diluted, and its strength should not exceed fifty degrees. Even considering the fact that medical alcohol contains only herbal ingredients, his overuse leads to the development of serious diseases.
Harm
Few people know, but alcohol sold in a pharmacy has specific instructions for use. This instruction indicates that the main function of the composition is the disinfection of the skin. Experts categorically prohibit the use of ethanol for the treatment of skin that has undergone an inflammation process. The warming effect can play a negative role and these processes will worsen.
The productivity of a modern distillery is about 30,000-100,000 liters of alcohol per day
Possible development allergic reaction organism, therefore the remedy is not recommended for use by persons under the age of fourteen. Women during pregnancy or at the stage of feeding, it is best to refuse the use of medical alcohol. As a result of weakened immunity, applying the solution to the skin can cause irritation. If the area of the skin subjected to alcohol treatment turns red after the procedure, it must be washed clean water. If such reactions of the body occur, the use of the drug should be discontinued.
Applying alcohol to delicate areas of the skin, such as the eyelids, can cause not only a burn of the skin, but also the mucous membrane of the eyeball. In cases where the composition is not used for its intended purpose, consequences such as poisoning with toxins and even a narcotic effect are possible. In most cases, these reactions are directly related to the amount and method of application of the composition.
An overdose, provoked by the use or inhalation of ethanol in a huge concentration, can cause a disruption in the functioning of the nervous system. Such consequences can lead to severe intoxication, emotional stupor and even coma. It is very important to apply for medical care when the first symptoms of toxin poisoning appear.
Overuse alcoholic products addictive. When alcohol is consumed, the human body produces the hormone endorphin, which is main reason development of alcoholism. It is important to remember that ethanol is a poisonous substance. Its single dose should not exceed three grams per kilogram of live weight. Exceeding this dose can cause poisoning and lead to coma. Alcohol abuse leads to the development of serious diseases of the liver and stomach. So as a result of the effect of alcohol on the body, diseases such as:
- stomach ulcer;
- gastritis;
- cirrhosis;
- cancer of the internal organs.
Very often, excessive consumption of medical alcohol causes the development of disorders of the cardiovascular system.
AT industrial scale ethyl alcohol is obtained from raw materials containing cellulose (wood, straw), which is preliminarily hydrolyzed
Alcohol addiction causes pathologies in the work of the brain. Its influence has a devastating effect on the state of cells and neurons. As a result of long internal use medical alcohol can begin to develop mental disorders.
The changes that take place in the body strong influence on the state of the nervous system. With such disorders, depression, apathy and suicidal tendencies can be observed. Medical alcohol must be used only for its intended purpose, observing the expiration date of the product.
Blue flame, then, most likely, you have ethanol in front of you. Methyl alcohol blazes green.
The folk method includes a sample using potatoes. Peel raw potatoes and toss a small wedge into a bowl. After a few hours, it may change its color. If it turns pink, the alcohol being tested is methanol. In ethyl alcohol, potatoes practically do not change color.
One of the most reliable ways to check the chemical affiliation alcohol considered formaldehyde test. Take a copper wire and heat it up on a fire. Then dip it into the liquid. Methanol will emit a sharp bad smell formaldehyde. Ethanol in such cases has little or no apple flavor. Tests that are similar in final result are also used. Moisten a cotton ball with alcohol, set it on fire and put it out sharply. You can also add to the liquid and. Use the above outgoing odors to identify the presence of the accessory alcohol to the ethanol or methanol group.
note
If you accidentally ingest methyl alcohol, call your doctor immediately. The antidote in this case is 10% ethyl alcohol. Give it intravenously at the rate of 1-2 ml of 96% ethanol per kilogram of body weight. Useful is the introduction of calcium salts and gastric lavage.
Methyl is a compound belonging to the group of monohydric alcohols. Methanol is highly toxic, only 10 ml of this substance can cause severe damage to the central nervous system, blindness, and 30 ml - death. That is why there is a need to identify it. It is much easier to analyze methyl alcohol in a toxicological laboratory, but it is quite possible to make the simplest determination even at home.
Instruction
Methanol is colorless, smell and taste indistinguishable from ethyl alcohol. However, these substances are qualitatively different. As a result, most poisonings occur. If the test solution contains only one alcohol, then it will not be difficult to determine which one. But if you have a mixture of alcohols with impurities in front of you, then it is possible to find out the qualitative and quantitative content only in laboratory conditions.
To determine some alcohols ( , ), there is a qualitative reaction - an iodoform test. It is carried out very first to confirm or exclude the content of ethanol in methanol. As a result of the test, bright crystals of triiodomethane (iodoform) precipitate. Methanol does not give this reaction.
C₂H₅OH + J₂ + NaOH = CHJ₃↓ + NaJ + HCOONa + H₂O
Many qualitative reactions to methyl alcohol are based on its conversion to methyl (). Pour the solution into a test tube with a gas outlet tube, add potassium permanganate in the presence of sulfuric acid. As a result of distillation, formaldehyde is formed, which can be treated with various reagents. Schiff's reagent gives a persistent violet color, chromotropic acid - a violet color of the solution, potassium hexacyanoferrate - a blue-violet color, Felling's reagent - a black precipitate. These reactions are confirmatory for methanol.
The study can be carried out using copper wire. Heat it over the fire and dip it into the test solution. If it contained methanol, then the smell of formalin will appear - sharp and very unpleasant. There will be no such effect.
The quantitative content is carried out in laboratory conditions by titrimetric methods and gas-liquid chromatography.
methanol and ethanol are clear liquids that are indistinguishable in taste. However, taking 10 ml of methyl alcohol, which is equal to 2 teaspoons in volume, can lead to severe poisoning, and 30 ml or more can be fatal. Therefore, it is not at all superfluous in domestic conditions to be able to distinguish one alcohol from another.
You will need
- - Cup;
- - thermometer;
- - plate;
- - copper wire;
- - tincture of iodine;
- - potassium permanganate;
- - drinking soda;
- - potato.
Instruction
Take a metal mug and fill it one third with the liquid to be tested. Put on the stove and turn on the burner. Dip into the thermometer. Record the boiling point of the liquid, it can be used to assume alcohol. Methyl alcohol at 64°C, ethyl alcohol at 78°C.
Heat a piece of copper wire over the flame of a lighter and dip it in alcohol. The copper oxide formed during heating will react with the test liquid. Among other interaction products, there will be one that has a characteristic one. If the liquid being examined is , you will smell vinegar or rotten apples. In the case of om, you will inhale formalin fumes, which irritate the nasal mucosa.
Drain a small amount of alcohol in a transparent container, add a pinch of soda and mix thoroughly. Drop tincture of iodine into the resulting mixture. See if there is any sediment. Ethanol reacts with iodine to form iodoform, a yellow insoluble substance. methanol remains clear and does not precipitate.
Add a few crystals of permanganate to alcohol and heat the pink solution. The release of gas bubbles indicates that you have methyl alcohol in front of you.
Try folk way determination of the chemical composition of alcohol. Soak the potatoes in the liquid for a few hours. A pink hue indicates that the alcohol is methyl, blue - ethyl.
note
The above methods will not be reliable if the methyl alcohol contains ethanol impurities and vice versa.
Household methods for determining the chemical composition of alcohol are not absolutely correct. An accurate result is possible only after a chromatographic analysis in a chemical laboratory.
A strong personality is, first of all, an individuality that manifests itself in any act, work or communication. A strong person is not afraid to be different from others; on the contrary, he strives for self-expression.
Confidence, initiative, responsibility
Under any circumstances, a strong personality is confident in himself and his abilities. He believes that he will achieve his goals and get the desired result, while realistically assessing his abilities. A strong person is constantly expanding his capabilities, constantly improving himself. A weak personality, on the contrary, is not confident in himself and his abilities. Such a person is not really interested in anything. While doing something, he does not strive for more and remains at the same level, gradually degrading.
A strong person values himself and his abilities above all else, while a weak person values something outside of him. It can be money, position, connections, relatives.
Strong people are not afraid of uncertainty in life, on the contrary, it stimulates them to learn and change. Readiness for constant internal and external changes is the source of their internal confidence.
A strong person is convinced that everything in his life depends only on him. He does not try to win the approval of others. He takes full responsibility for his actions. Such a person does not rely on anyone, he considers himself the master of his own destiny and does not demand anything from people.
Relationships with others, feelings
An integral quality of a strong person is the ability to establish favorable and deep relationships with people. He accepts others as they are, without teaching or educating anyone, without seeking to subjugate or use anyone. It is very difficult for weak people to build relationships even with the closest ones. They do not know how to get from others what they need to meet their needs.
A strong person understands that it is impossible to change the people around him without starting to change himself. This, in his opinion, leads to the achievement of the desired result. Weak people most often use a limited number of behavioral patterns in communication, so they are never satisfied with their relationships with others.
Strong people openly express their feelings, both positive and negative. Weak - try to hide behind a mask, they are especially afraid to admit their own weakness. Even to themselves, they do not admit what they are really experiencing.
It is easy to communicate with strong people, because they do not suffer from complexes and problems, they are cheerful and open. The weak, on the contrary, always need a special approach, you have to adapt to them.
A strong person is sensitive to his own thoughts and experiences. He tries to resolve all emerging internal conflicts and contradictions in order to feel good. A weak personality lets everything take its course, thereby turning them into psychological complexes, neuroses, etc.
A strong person periodically feels the need for solitude, without feeling lonely. A weak person is bored with himself, he constantly strives to go into the crowd, trying to merge with it and forget about his inner emptiness.
A strong person is always cheerful, for him it is not connected with the financial situation, affairs at work or other people's opinions. Even getting into difficult situations, he does not lose his composure and optimism. Strong people are not touchy, do not harbor resentment in themselves, adequately respond to the situation.
Medical and food alcohol belong to the ethyl group of alcohol - a liquid with a pronounced odor and a burning taste that has no color. A big mistake is the opinion that both versions of alcohol will be identical in composition and strength, and also serve the same purposes. Only in some cases, the composition and strength can approximately coincide, but the difference in the degree of purification of the substance will in any case take place.
Food and medical alcohol - what do they have in common?
The manufacture of medical alcohol implies a high degree of purification. Subsequently, such a substance can be used in the food industry in the same way as the food type of alcohol. This is one of their main common areas of application, in contrast to industrial alcohol, which contains many harmful impurities, which is used in the form of fuel and in industry.
Raw materials for production
Medical alcohol is made exclusively from grains and potatoes, which have high quality. Potato starch easily boiled and saccharified. Cereals are widespread and significantly reduce the cost of production of such alcohol.
Fortress
Food alcohol has strength indicators in the range 95 to 95.2%. The medical counterpart has a wider range of indicators. However, depending on the goals, you can find a fortress of 95%.
Availability
Any of the two types of alcohol can be purchased at a pharmacy at low prices without providing additional documents or restrictions.
Synthetic way of obtaining
Currently, the production of alcohol by fermentation of natural food raw materials is gradually beginning to fade into the background. Some of the ethyl alcohol is already being produced through the synthetic hydration of ethylene or the hydrolysis of plant materials. After receiving the substance, it is analyzed and purified. Further, part of the alcohol is used to solve medical purposes, the other part is sent to the production of alcoholic beverages. The remaining, most "dirty" part of the alcohol belongs to the "technical" classification and follows the needs of the industry.
Food and medical alcohol - the main differences
Whatever materials this or that type of alcohol is made from, the degree of purification of the medical analogue will always be higher- qualitative analysis shows that there are no additional impurities other than water and alcohol. Regular edible ethyl alcohol may always contain certain additional substances left after the purification process, which do not allow it to be used for medical purposes.
Wider variability with production raw materials
In the manufacture of food alcohol, various fruit and berry crops can be used, including molasses, which are not used to create purer medical alcohol due to the inability to obtain the required purity.
Various strength range
As you know, the strength of food alcohol, depending on the brand, will be from 95 to 95.2%. The corresponding indicators of medical alcohol can be found at 70, 90, 95 and even 40%, depending on the needs for which the substance will be used.
Scope of application
Rubbing alcohol has found its greatest use as an antiseptic. It has long been known that many drugs contain harmful substances and poisons, which are neutralized under the influence of ethanol. In order to prevent infection, in hospitals, the blood sampling site is treated with an alcohol that evaporates after a short time, leaving a completely sterile skin area. It is also widely used in pharmaceuticals, where it serves as the basis for the preparation of various medicinal tinctures. Can be used in other medical areas.
Food alcohol, based on the name, is used in Food Industry. It is widely used in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages. Subject to high purification, the substance can be used in some medical areas.
As a result, food and medical alcohol, despite the similar manufacturing technology (and in some cases the same raw materials), have different degrees of purification and different applications.
Ethyl alcohol serves as the basis for all strong alcoholic beverages. A surrogate potion is made from methyl alcohol, a component from the same class of organic compounds. The use of methanol is fraught with severe poisoning, disability and even death. An unprepared person outward signs it is difficult to distinguish methyl alcohol from ethyl alcohol. If the purchased drink is suspicious, you can resort to home tests that will identify the dangerous component.
How to check ethyl or methyl alcohol
Food alcohol and deadly poison are similar to each other. Both compounds are a colorless, flammable liquid. But methyl alcohol has a less pronounced odor than ethyl alcohol. This is the only difference that unmistakably betrays the lethal substance.
If, when uncorking a bottle, a recognizable vodka “aroma” hits the nose, this is a sure sign quality alcohol. But the lack of smell should alert. You should not drink such a product until the nature of its origin is clarified. You can determine the class of substances using improvised means without leaving your home.
Home methods for determining
When starting experiments, it is important to realize that home laboratory will not replace specialized There are 7 ways to detect methanol in a drink:
- Assess the color of the flame when igniting alcohol.
- Test with raw potatoes.
- Determine the boiling point of the substance.
- Experiment with baking soda.
- Assess the reaction of the substance with potassium permanganate.
- Carry out a test with copper wire and flame.
- Apply Lang's test.
For reliability, it is worth using several methods for identifying alcohol in a product. The result will be more accurate if the bottle contains pure methanol or its concentration is more than half of the total volume.
flame color
The test is best done in a dark room, excluding all possible light sources. The experimental liquid is poured into a shallow container and then set on fire. Evaluate the color of the flame and the rate of ignition of the substance. Ethanol ignites quickly and burns with a pale bluish flame. Methanol ignites more slowly and has a greenish tint when burned. Cotton buds are also suitable for the experiment: they are moistened in a liquid and brought to a fire source.
This method cannot be called ultra-precise, since it is difficult to determine the color of the flame if the drink contains impurities. So, when boric acid is added, both substances burn in the same way - with a green flame.
Reaction with potatoes
The experiment should be carried out only with colorless drinks. The liquid is poured into a transparent glass, then a slice of raw potato is placed in it and left for 3-4 hours. If during this time the root crop has changed its color to pink or lilac, then there is a surrogate in the glass. If the potato remains unchanged, the drink does not pose a threat to health. Metamorphosis with a vegetable occurs due to the interaction of starch with the test compound.
The disadvantage of this method is long time, which must be waited to ascertain the safety (or danger) of the experimental liquid. That's why potato dough not very common among the people.
Boiling temperature
You can check the presence of poison in an alcohol-containing drink by bringing it to a boil. The test requires a thermometer that is resistant to high temperatures. The liquid is poured into a refractory dish, the device is immersed in it and put on fire with it. Wait for the moment of boiling the drink and evaluate the results. Ethyl alcohol boils at +78°C, methyl alcohol at +64°C.
The result will be accurate if the test is subjected to pure alcohol. If you need to test an alcohol-containing liquid, which is the majority of alcoholic products, this method cannot be relied upon.
Reaction with baking soda
The experience is based on the difference in interaction with the alkaline environment of ethyl and methyl alcohol. This can be clearly demonstrated by adding a little baking soda(1 tsp per 1 cup) and mix the solutions well. The surrogate will dissolve White powder without residue and retain its transparency, while in food alcohol soda will precipitate to the bottom in the form of yellow flakes.
This home instruction The alcohol test will work if the drink itself is colorless. If dark-colored wines, port wine, cognac or beer are tested, the cloudy sediment at the bottom can not be seen.
Reaction with potassium permanganate
Surrogate and legal alcohol interact differently with potassium permanganate. Differences in the reaction when mixing the two components will be the main evidence of the presence (or absence) of methanol in the drink. This test is good because it can be applied to colored and dark-colored liquids.
Potassium permanganate is added to a glass of alcohol at the tip of a knife and the reaction is monitored. If there is a rapid release of bubbles, methyl alcohol is present in the glass. If gas is not released, but a vinegar smell is clearly felt, the experimental liquid does not pose a danger to the body.
Formaldehyde test
Copper wire is required for this experiment. Copper wire is suitable, but in this case it is stripped from the insulating coating. The test drink is poured into a glass. The metal is heated on fire and quickly placed in a liquid. If there is an admixture of methanol in it, soon the smell of formaldehyde will soar in the air. Food grade alcohol will not smell (sometimes it can smell like rotten apples).
The main disadvantage of this method is that not everyone knows what formaldehyde smells like. This substance can be identified by a specific hospital "aroma", which is particularly resistant.
Lang test
To distinguish between two alcohols, the Lang test or the oxidizability of the liquid will help. To conduct the test, you will need a glass test tube or a transparent narrow vessel. The test tube is first rinsed with the liquid to be tested, and then 50 ml is poured inside. Place the container for 10 minutes in warm water(temperature + 15 ° C), making sure that the outside water is above the level alcoholic drink. Using a syringe, add 1 ml of potassium permanganate solution prepared from 1 liter of water and 0.2 g of potassium permanganate. The composition is stirred and again placed in water.
Next, the time is recorded, which will take the clarification of the liquid from saturated pink to light pink. The longer the oxidation takes, the safer drink. Ethyl alcohol will discolor the liquid in 10–20 minutes, methyl alcohol almost immediately.
Precautionary measures
Methanol is a potent poison that causes poisoning and subsequent complications. As little as 5–10 g of a dangerous substance can cause blindness, and 30 g is considered a lethal dose. The toxic effect of the compound is manifested not only when it is ingested, but also when interacting with it. So, methyl alcohol vapors penetrate into Airways and through the skin, causing irritation of the mucous membranes, visual disturbances, headaches, neuritis. That's why you need to be careful when handling methanol, even if you don't intend to drink it. The following rules will help protect yourself:
- You can work with the substance only in a ventilated area.
- Respiratory organs must be protected with a respirator, put on rubber gloves on your hands.
- It is forbidden to pour hazardous substances down the drain. It should be collected in a sealed container and handed over to special structures involved in the destruction of hazardous substances.
- If poison gets on the skin or hands, wash it off large quantity water. If alcohol gets on clothes, they must be washed in warm water.
- If methanol is accidentally swallowed, medical attention should be sought immediately.
Buy alcoholic drink methanol-based can be without knowing it. Patients suffering from alcoholism are at risk. The dependence on alcohol is so strong that the person does not realize that he is drinking poison. Alcohol abuse, periodic binges make a person look for cheaper analogues of legal alcoholic beverages. Therefore, cases of poisoning with a surrogate with a fatal outcome appear regularly in the media news.
In order to avoid unpleasant consequences, you need to buy alcohol in trusted places - in the wine departments of large hypermarkets, specialized stores. You should not buy alcohol in dubious places, from hands or from home winemakers. When buying, you should always pay attention to the availability excise stamp, informative labels and quality packaging. If the purchased drink does not inspire confidence, it is better not to drink it at all.
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