# I got some 100% isopropyl alcohol. Any precautions vs the 70% stuff I normally use?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-some-100-isopropyl-alcohol-any-precautions-vs-the-70-stuff-i-normally-use/615102>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 8, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-some-100-isopropyl-alcohol-any-precautions-vs-the-70-stuff-i-normally-use/615102 "2012-03-08T02:44:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 9

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**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\
**Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-got-some-100-isopropyl-alcohol-any-precautions-vs-the-70-stuff-i-normally-use/615102/9 "2012-03-08T12:34:28Z")

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Ironically, the 100% is not as effective in killing germs as the 70% is

> **[Why is 70 percent alcohol a better disinfectant than 100 percent alcohol? -...](https://qa.answers.com/health/Why_is_70_percent_alcohol_a_better_disinfectant_than_100_percent_alcohol)**
>
> as an antiseptic, 70 percent of alcohol is prefered to a stonger
> solution. Pure alcohol coagulates protein in contact. Suppose the
> pure alcohol is poured ovr a single celled organism. Th alcohol
> will penetrate the cell wall of the organism in all...

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