Question

Which of the following alcohol is used in tincture iodine and cough syrups?
A.Hexanol
B.Pentanol
C.Ethanol
D.Ethanal

Answer 1

Hint: Ethanol is an excellent solvent and dissolves most of the non-polar compounds. It acts as a good antiseptic solution in clinical practice as it degrades the lipid wall of microorganisms. Thus, it can be used in various medications like tincture iodine and cough syrup.

Complete step by step answer:
Ethanol is used in tincture iodine and cough syrups. Ethanol is a very effective topical antiseptic and can be used as an ingredient in many mouth washes also. It kills microorganisms on wound surfaces and in the mouth but its low toxicity does not kill the cells of the skin or mouth tissues.
Tincture Iodine contains iodine which is an antiseptic. It is used on minor wounds, cuts and scrapes. It is usually \[2 - 7\% \] elemental iodine, along with potassium iodide or sodium iodide, dissolved in a mixture of ethanol \[\left( {89\% \dfrac{v}{v}} \right)\] and water. Ethanol is a good solvent which is used to make tincture iodine because the cell membrane of microorganisms is made up of lipids and as ethanol is a solvent which can dissolve the lipid easily and help in killing the pathogenic microorganisms.
It is also used in cough syrups and cold liquids because in its formulation, it helps to dissolve active ingredients or preserve the product.

Therefore, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: Ethanol is also used in hand sanitizer. Dilute ethanol is used for recreational purposes and for intoxication. It can also be used as an antidote to methanol poisoning, used as fuel in many applications, used as a solvent in paints and dyes. It is used as an additive to gasoline in many countries