Alcohol is for consumption regulated and taxed, however it has many industrial uses while denatured alcohol is ethyl alcohol that has additives to make it undrinkable.
Methylated spirit or denatured alcohol is ethanol which has been rendered toxic or otherwise undrinkable, and in some cases dyed. It is used for purposes such as fuel fo … r spirit burners and camping stoves, and as a solvent. Traditionally, the main additive was 10% methanol, which gave rise to its name. On the other hand, rubbing alcohol contains isopropyl alcohol (which is a chemically made alcohol), and usually contains additional water and sometimes glycerine, and isn't intended to be substituted for either grain or wood alcohol. To drink it would make one very ill and may even be lethal, or cause blindness. Isopropyl alcohol is not the same as denatured alcohol. The former  is a rubbing alcohol that is poisonous. Denatured alcohol, on the  other hand, is methanol that has been … treated with denatonium  benzoate and is not fit for human consumption. On the other hand, rubbing alcohol contains isopropyl alcohol (which is a chemically made alcohol), and usually contains additional water and sometimes glycerine, and isn't intended to be substituted for either grain or wood alcohol. To drink it would make one very ill and may even be lethal, or cause blindness. Denatured alcohol, also called methylated spirits, is ethanol that has additives to make it poisonous, extremely bad tasting, foul smelling or nauseating, to discourage recreational consumption. In some cases it is also dyed. Denatured alcohol is used as a solvent and as fuel for alcohol burners and camping stoves. Because of the diversity of industrial uses for denatured alcohol, hundreds of additives and denaturing methods have been used. The main additive has traditionally been 10% methanol, giving rise to the term methylated spirits A one carbon alcohol is methanol (methyl alcohol), two carbons is ethanol (ethyl alcohol), three carbons is propanol. A partcicular arrangement of those three carbons gives you isopropyl alcohol or isopropanol. Ehtyl alcohol is the stuff you buy in the liquor store. Report Abuse. denatured alcohol is ethyl with added stuff to make it undrinkable. It is used as a solvent. ethyl is C2H5OH propyl and isopropyl are C3H7OH propyl and isopropyl have the same basic formula, but the molecules look different. Best Answer: Denatured alcohol is ethyl alcohol that has additives to make it undrinkable. Alcohol for consumption is regulated and taxed, however it has many industrial uses as well. In order to circumvent the taxing, transport, and other regulatory measures, denatured alcohol is made undrinkable. Methanol is sometimes added to ethanol to make it denatured, but by default methanol is not called, denatured alcohol. Methanol is the simplest form of alcohol and is toxic. Of course, ethyl alcohol is also toxic, but not in the way that methanol is. Rubbing Alcohol and Denatured Alcohol RUBBING ALCOHOL is intended for use on the skin only. It was made in the old days for rubbing on the skin, on a inflammed Joint. It was also Rubbed on skin to reduce fevers. On the other hand, rubbing alcohol contains isopropyl alcohol (which is a chemically made alcohol), and usually contains additional water and sometimes glycerine, and isn't intended to be substituted for either grain or wood alcohol. To drink it would make one very ill and may even be lethal, or cause blindness. First there’s the alcohol you drink, like whiskey, beer and wine. This is ethyl alcohol that is produced by yeast. The yeast eat some kind of sugar or starch and turn it into carbon dioxide and alcohol. In wine the process is pretty simple – yeast eats the sugar in grape juice and creates alcohol. Methanol is poisonous, and it is one of the chemicals that can be used to poison denatured alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol is a slightly bigger molecule than ethanol (Methanol is CH4O, Ethanol is C2H6O and Isopropyl alcohol is C3H8O) and is often cheaper to make. Isopropyl Alcohol vs Denatured Alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol and denatured alcohol are categorized under the alcohol group, since they have a –OH group. These are the smaller alcohols in the series with two or three carbons. Isopropyl alcohol has three carbon atoms. • Denatured alcohol is a mixture whereas isopropyl alcohol is not. • Isopropyl alcohol is mixed as an additive with ethanol when producing denatured alcohol. • Ethanol is denatured alcohol is a primary alcohol, whereas isopropyl alcohol is a secondary alcohol. Denatured alcohol is NOT methanol. Methanol is sometimes added to ethanol to make it denatured, but by default methanol is not called, denatured alcohol. Methanol is the simplest form of alcohol and is toxic. Of course, ethyl alcohol is also toxic, but not in the way that methanol is. Ethyl alcohol can be found in alcoholic beverages. Isopropyl alcohol is alcohol that is used topically to kill germs and is a common ingredient in soaps, shampoos and cleaners, among other things. Isopropyl alcohol will cause illness or even death if it is ingested. 
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what is the difference between alcohol and denatured alcohol