What happens to 70% Ethyl Rubbing Alcohol (50% tap water mixed with %50 alcohol) when heated up in the microwave? Let's say the microwave is set on high for 1 minute or less.
2007-04-13 22:01:03 · 5 answers · asked by babycattos 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Is there a risk of the mixture exploding?
2007-04-13 22:14:39 · update #1
No risk of explosion for a microwave setting of 1 minute or less. What will happen is the alcohol will evaporate from water. However, do not heat too long because alcohol vapors are HIGHLY FLAMMABLE and do have a flash point, that is a temperature at which the vapor spontaneously ignites.
2007-04-13 22:21:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
The answer may not be that simple.
From memory water and ethanol form an azeotrope. That is at a certain % of ethanol in water they will boil at the same temperature. Under these conditions the water and ethanol will not be separated but vapourise together.
So my answer to the question is that the microwave will boil the mixture and both the ethanol and the water will come off at the same time. After cooling the % Ethanol will be unchanged.
The caveat is that the at this concentration an azeotrope will form. You need to look this up.
Addition:
Just looked up some info on the net. When the solution boils I think that the vapour will be between 86 and 95% ethanol and 14 and 5% water. So the level of alcohol in the container will slowly decrease, But a portion of the water will be lost with it.
2007-04-13 23:18:56 · answer #2 · answered by ktrna69 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The alcohol, having a much lower boiling point than the water, will evaporate out of the mixture at a faster rate than the water. You'll have less and less alcohol in your water.
2007-04-13 22:04:14 · answer #3 · answered by charmedchiclet 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
this is extremely risky. Rubbing alcohol might reason burns interior your mouth and throat. in case you drink too lots it may deliver you right into a coma or kill you. you would be "unwell adequate to stay homestead." yet you may result doing it interior the wellness middle doing it. it incredibly is between the worst a thank you to play hooky i've got ever heard of.
2016-12-26 07:17:31 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some of it evaporates and the temperature increases........................but dont try to test this theory
2007-04-13 22:04:56 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋