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Alcohol has a high specific heat. This means that it absorbs heat easily and evaporates quickly. When it evaporates, it takes the heat away with it. I don't know if I've really explained that very well, but if you really want to understand it, take a class on thermodynamics. Or if you're in high school, chemistry would probably suffice. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Specific_heat -DJ Craig
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∙ 18y ago
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∙ 15y agoThe reason why alcohol rub cools is closely related to the way that sweat cools and its all based on evaporation. Alcohol evaporates readily at room temperature that is why you can quickly rub your hands dry after a apply an alcohol based hand sanitizer or wipe. but why should that have a cooling effect. well think of it this way, which of the alcohol molecules evaporate first? its the ones that had the highest individual temperatures. typically when we talk about temperature we mean the average temperature (i.e. rate of movement) of a large group of molecules. Some will be above average some will be below average and some will be right at the average. but when a fluid starts to evaporate it looses some of its hottest (fastest moving) molecules. That means that the new average shifts down and the fluid becomes cooler. if you put a dab of alcohol on your arm you would feel the cooling. but for each action there is an opposite reaction, right? so, as the alcohol transmits coolness (lack of heat) to your arm, your arm transmits heat back to the alcohol and it continues to evaporate until its all gone, at that time your arm stops feeling cool.
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∙ 11y agoAlcohol is volatile (can evaporate easily. When it is rubbed on our skin , it absorbs heat from our body and evaporates and we know that evaporation has a cooling effect.
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Why is rubbing alcohol cooler on your skin than water?
because it evapurates on the skin faster and it cools down
In the absences of water what are for itemsthat could cool down a burn?
Butter and aloe vera are two things that can cool a burn down in the absence of water.
How do you mix lidocaine with rubbing alcohol and distilled water?
mix Lidocaine as 1 gram in 250cc which yields 4mg/cc, no alcohol needed to break it downmix Lidocaine as 1 gram in 250cc which yields 4mg/cc, no alcohol needed to break it downmix Lidocaine as 1 gram in 250cc which yields 4mg/cc, no alcohol needed to break it down
How does water cool hot things down?
Water absorbs heat from its surroundings - causing it to evaporate... taking the heat with it.
Why do things cool down more slowly if they are wrapped?
Whatever it is wrapped in slows the loss of heat. It acts as an insulator.
Why is rubbing alcohol cooler on your skin than water?
because it evapurates on the skin faster and it cools down
How do things cool down?
There are many ways different types of things cool down. Some cool down fans, ice, air conditioning, and dirt are commonly used ways.
Why is a child with a high fever given a sponge bath with water mixed with rubbing alcohol?
To help cool the child down. The evaporating alcohol would help with the cooling. To evaporate the alcohol needs some energy and it would take heat from the child's skin thus helping with the cooling. The water would remove heat from the skin by evaporation and conduction.
What things cut down alcohol conceptions?
Some medical conditions and health conditions like pregnancy are one of the things that cut down the alcohol conceptions.
Is it safe to use rubbing alcohol on muscles?
That was practiced in the past, but it is no longer recommended. There are products that are safer to use to help muscles cool down, particularly at sporting events. There are a number of these and you can look them up online or call a massage school in your area to get recommendations for its use.
Does the condensation of water vapor cool things down?
no
What are other examples of evaporation to cool things down?
Sweating is a major example of evaporation to cool down. That is why people sweat. When the sweat is evaporated off of the body, it causes the person to cool down some.
Why should rubbling alcohol not be used applied to skin for heat exhaustion?
Rubbing alcohol is very drying and can be irritating to the skin. It can actually burn the skin and cause the temperature to fluctuate. It is important to get the person suffering from heat exhaustion out of the sun and cool them down. One of the fastest ways to do that is to put cool packs under the armpits, between the thighs and on the forehead and neck. Do not put super cold packs on them. Cool is better. Replace the cool packs often. A light going over the entire body with cool wash clothes is good as long as the person is not shivering or getting shocky. It is a good idea to take the person to a doctor while you have the cool packs on them. Do not use any sort of chemicals, creams, butter or other things on their skin. Watch for odd behaviors and symptoms.
How much rubbing alcohol can one consume?
Rubbing alcohol is poisonous and should not be consumed in any amounts under any circumstances. Rubbing alcohol consists of mostly isopropanol alcohol and not the ethyl alcohol that people consume. This alcohol breaks down to acetone in the liver and can cause a wide range of symptoms including vomiting, headaches, dizziness, and can even cause a person to go into a coma.
Can gelatin cool things down?
Definitely yes, uh huh. Gelatin will cool down anything stuck into it that's warmer than the gelatin is.
In the absences of water what are for itemsthat could cool down a burn?
Butter and aloe vera are two things that can cool a burn down in the absence of water.
What happens to your insides if you drink rubbing alcohol?
rubbing alcohol is not the same as any regular "grain" alcohol. rubbing alcohol is also known as "wood" alcohol and drinking it is a BAD IDEA. the isopropanol which is thus consumed will break down into acetone and cause severe stomach pain. eventually the poison may cause blindness and death. basically drinking rubbing alcohol is drinking poison.Actually "wood" alcohol is methyl alcohol (methanol), not isopropyl alcohol or propyl alcohol. Alcohols are modified hydrocarbons with one hydrogen (H) replaced with a hydroxyl group (OH):methyl alcohol, methanol - hydrocarbon methane; 1 carbon atom (wood alcohol)ethyl alcohol, ethanol - hydrocarbon ethane; 2 carbon atoms (grain alcohol)propyl alcohol, propanol - hydrocarbon propane; isopropyl alcohol, isopropanol - hydrocarbon isopropane; 3 carbon atoms (rubbing alcohol)butyl alcohol, butanol - hydrocarbon butane; isobutyl alcohol, isobutanol - hydrocarbon isobutane; etc.; 4 carbon atomsetc.The toxicity of the different alcohols varies, but only ethyl alcohol can really be considered safe to consume.
