If I Have No Hand Gel, Would Trickling Some Whiskey Or Gin Over My Fingers Do Just As Well?

[lynbrown]

Its a serious request.

[Cloverjo]

Don’t waste your gin and whisky. You might need it soon.

[theprof]

Peter, you're absolutely right; ethanol cannot be purchased by the public in this form.

Odd you should mention germ warfare laboratories. I've just spent close on a week in a DSTL facility 5 miles from Salisbury providing advice on what might make a certain virus tick.

[jno]

never mind ticking, what makes it chime the hour?

[sandyRoe]

Would methylated spirits do?

[Vagus]

Not with tonic

[theprof]

sandyRoe, yes methylated spirits would be fine for the job. It contains about 90% to 95% ethyl alcohol.

Just make sure there are no naked flames nearby!

[237SJ]

What about surgical spirit containing methanol? Would that kill me?

[Vagus]

If you drank it, probably. Wouldn’t taste much good either.

[theprof]

237SJ, Surgical Spirit is about 90% ethanol and 5% methanol with the rest being oil of wintegreen, castor oil and one or two other unpleasant tasting chemicals.

It would certainly make you ill and probably kill you if swallowed in quantity, because methanol is extremely toxic.

It would destroy the Coronavirus when applied to skin although it should not be used on those people with sensitive skin.

[sanmac]

Theprof, is is true that the flames from burning methyl hydrate fumes are invisible?

[jim360]

Hi, theprof! Is it too much to ask if you're involved actively with Coronavirus research? How are things looking there if so?

[237SJ]

Thank you. I made some hand sanitiser with surgical spirit, aloe vera gel and lime oil. Listed ingredients on the spirit were ethanol and methanol and it was implied that the methanol was 'bad'

[theprof]

sanmac, it's years since I heard anyone referring to methanol as methyl hydrate. Still, be that as it may, the answer to your question is yes and no.

In bright sunlight, methanol burns with an almost invisible flame and methanol is extremely dangerous where the alcohol is used as a fuel.

In dimmer situations, the flame can sometimes be seen.

Some substrates are deliberately seeded with inorganic salts just in case the fuel ignites in order to give the flame colour. Strontium salts in the substrate for example, will colour the flame red.

Watching something melting and burning in front of your eyes in the apparent absence of a flame is a strange experience and I've watched such a fire in a fume cupboard many years ago.

[theprof]

jim360, yes I am involved in coronavirus research temporarily over and above my university duties. As a biochemist, positive-stranded RNA viruses fall within the remit of my academic experience along with the protein chemistry of the virus and the glycoproteins present in the spikes on the surface of the virus. I also contribute to the research via the phone and a secure Skype-like service.

Research is progressing well and some unexpected discoveries regarding the virus were made earlier this week in the facility.

Working in a laboratory with the virus close-by is an experience in itself. Current handling techniques use state of the art equipment and robots many times safer than the equipment seen in such films as "The Andromeda Strain". I've not even physically seen the electron microscope I use. Still, we'll beat this pathogen eventually.

[sanmac]

Thank you, theprof. I think that the term 'methyl hydrate' is more of an American/Canadian term for it.

[theprof]

237SJ, the methanol is toxic even at a concentration of 5%. It can cause blindness. Ethanol adulterated with methanol caused a group of party revellers to wake up blind the morning after a party a few years ago in the USA. Some also had severe liver damage due to the livers inabilty to process the methanol, a interesting biochemical pathway that fascinates biochemistry students.

[237SJ]

^I've heard that can happen from cider :)

[theprof]

Thank you sanmac. You set me thinking about that and I think the last time I came across it was on a Winchester at Stanford university a couple of years ago.

Still, these days I get a wagging finger from the university Chemistry Main Organic Stores Manager when I send an order over for a litre of HPLC Glacial Acetic Acid, now known as HPLC Glacial Ethanoic Acid. Getting Old.

[Sam1960]

Wonder if Boots reviving foot gel would work as a sanitiser.
Scroll down the link to see the ingredients. I think it might !!
https://www.boots.com/boots-reviving-foot-spray-150ml-10004185

[THECORBYLOON]

I might ask for that to be deleted so it gives me a chance to get some to-morrow before everyone else does!

I see it contains denatured alcohol AND alcohol so I'm wondering why that is.