Question

What is meant by denatured alcohol and what is the need to denature alcohol?

Answer 1

Alcohol:

• "An alcohol contains one or more hydroxyl $\left(\mathrm{OH}\right)$ group (s) directly attached to the carbon atoms, of an aliphatic system". Example: $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{OH}\right)$.

Denaturation of alcohol:

• “The commercial alcohol is made unfit for drinking by mixing in it some copper sulfate (to give it a color) and pyridine (a foul smelling liquid). It is known as denaturation of alcohol.”
• Thus, in order to denature alcohol, some substances are added to commercial alcohol such as Copper sulfate $\left({\mathrm{CuSO}}_4\right)$ and Pyridine $\left({\mathrm{C}}_5{\mathrm{H}}_5\mathrm{N}\right)$.
• Alcohol is supplied at concessional rates to industries. It is therefore made unfit for drinking purposes to prevent its misuse.