Comment on Wet Time
Depends on what the concentration is, IIRC. 70% is better than 90%.
That seems counterintuitive, why?
ELI5 answer is 90% alcohol dries out the bacteria too fast and it converts into a bacterial spore with a hard shell that protects its insides.
70% alcohol gives it time to penetrate the cell wall and “dissolve” the insides of the bacteria, either killing it or rendering it non infective.
From what I understand, the water helps “penetrate” the cell walls of bacteria and deliver the lethal dose of alcohol. Take out more water and it’s unable to penetrate and murder things as efficiently.
Iirc, the higher water content keeps the alcohol from evaporating off as fast, keeping it in contact with the surface for a longer period of time.
shikogo@pawb.social 1 month ago
That seems counterintuitive, why?
Shard@lemmy.world 1 month ago
ELI5 answer is 90% alcohol dries out the bacteria too fast and it converts into a bacterial spore with a hard shell that protects its insides.
70% alcohol gives it time to penetrate the cell wall and “dissolve” the insides of the bacteria, either killing it or rendering it non infective.
modus@lemmy.world 1 month ago
From what I understand, the water helps “penetrate” the cell walls of bacteria and deliver the lethal dose of alcohol. Take out more water and it’s unable to penetrate and murder things as efficiently.
Clasm@ttrpg.network 1 month ago
Iirc, the higher water content keeps the alcohol from evaporating off as fast, keeping it in contact with the surface for a longer period of time.