denatured alcohol

Meanings

1. 1noununcountablechemistrytechnical

   Ethanol that has been made unfit for drinking by adding small amounts of poisonous or bitter substances.

   Grammar: Uncountable; used without 'a' or plural.

   Patterns

   • denatured alcohol for something
   • use denatured alcohol as something

   The laboratory uses denatured alcohol as a solvent for cleaning glassware.

   Denatured alcohol is often sold in hardware stores as a fuel for camping stoves.

   You should not drink denatured alcohol because it contains toxic additives.

2. 2noununcountabletechnical

   A mixture of ethanol and other chemicals used as a solvent or fuel in industry.

   Grammar: Uncountable; often followed by 'for' to show purpose.

   Patterns

   • denatured alcohol for industrial use
   • denatured alcohol as a fuel

   The factory imports denatured alcohol for industrial use.

   Denatured alcohol as a fuel is cheaper than pure ethanol.

   They use denatured alcohol to remove grease from machine parts.

Common combinations

denatured alcohol solution

Prepare a 70% denatured alcohol solution for disinfecting surfaces.

denatured alcohol fuel

The camp stove runs on denatured alcohol fuel.

denatured alcohol lamp

A denatured alcohol lamp is used in some chemistry labs.

denatured alcohol solvent

This paint thinner contains a denatured alcohol solvent.

Synonyms and how they differ

methylated spirits

British term for a similar product; 'denatured alcohol' is more technical and international.

industrial alcohol

Broader term for alcohol used in industry, not necessarily denatured.

Word family

denature verb

To make alcohol unfit for drinking by adding chemicals.

denatured adjective

Describing alcohol that has been treated this way.

Commonly confused: denatured alcohol or ethanol? denatured alcohol or isopropyl alcohol?

Practice

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