isopropyl alcohol

noun

, Chemistry.

a colorless, flammable, water-soluble liquid, C 3 H 8 O, produced from propylene by the action of sulfuric acid and hydrolysis: used chiefly in the manufacture of antifreeze and rubbing alcohol and as a solvent.

isopropyl alcohol

/ ī′sə-prō′pəl /

A clear, colorless, flammable, mobile liquid that is one of the two isomers of propyl alcohol. It is used in antifreeze compounds, rubbing alcohol, lotions, and cosmetics, and also as a solvent for gums, shellac, and essential oils. Chemical formula: C 3 H 8 O.

First recorded in 1870–75

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