Is ethyl alcohol disinfectant the same as alcohol?

Under normal circumstances, ethanol disinfectant is essentially alcohol. The detailed explanation is as follows:

Ethanol is the chemical name for alcohol. Ethanol disinfectant is a disinfecting agent primarily composed of ethanol, typically referring to an aqueous solution with a volume concentration of 70%-75%. This concentration of ethanol can effectively penetrate bacterial cell membranes, causing proteins to coagulate and denature, thereby killing bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms.

In daily life and medical settings, 75% ethanol disinfectant is a commonly used disinfectant, often applied for hand disinfection, surface disinfection of objects, etc. Although higher-concentration ethanol may seem to have stronger bactericidal capability, it rapidly coagulates the proteins on the bacterial surface, forming a protective membrane that hinders further penetration of ethanol, thereby reducing its disinfecting effectiveness. Ethanol with a concentration lower than 70% also demonstrates significantly weakened bactericidal capability.

Therefore, ethanol disinfectant is alcohol; however, attention should be paid to its concentration during use. A 75% ethanol disinfectant provides the best disinfecting effect and should be kept away from open flames and heat sources during use to avoid fire risks due to ethanol's flammability. When purchasing and using ethanol disinfectants, ensure you choose legitimate products and follow the usage instructions scientifically.