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70% ethanol to disinfect - why 70% (Nov/22/2010 )

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We usually use demineralised water, but I think tap water will be fine as well.....

-gebirgsziege-

gebirgsziege on Mon Nov 29 11:03:02 2010 said:


We usually use demineralised water, but I think tap water will be fine as well.....


I am not so sure about that...

Tap water contains salts and isnt it possible you can get a precipitation reaction and also withdraw water from the mixture?

(or something like that.. my chemistry is not that good anymore :P)

-pito-

I was thinking about the minerals in the water as well, but think that this does not influence the mode of action, but if anybody knows the difference I would be happy to know.

-gebirgsziege-

Depending if you have "hard" water or not you'll have a more or less strong precipitation of the minerals, as they're not very soluble in ethanol (especially polyvalent ions). For sprayers it might be bad (blocking), but if the minerals are gone, there should be no influence on the action of the alcohol itself.

-hobglobin-
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