Alcohol in Commercial Products

dela Rosa, K.P., Gonzaga, M.F., Quejada, K.R.

Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry

College of Pharmacy
University of the Philippines Manila
Taft Avenue cor. Pedro Gil St., Manila, Philippines, 1000

ABSTRACT
Toxicity from commercial products may be accounted to its chemical constituents. Among
of these substances are ethanol and methanol. This study aims to determine the presence of
these substances using qualitative test for alcohols, liebens iodoform test, berthelots test, and
ethyl acetate test. The tests confirmed the presence of toxicant in the sample.
Keywords: Alcohol toxicity, Commercial products, Qualitative test for alcohols, Berthelots test

INTRODUCTION
Nowadays there are many commercial products we are using everyday contain
substances that can be toxic. Toxicants can be found in cleaning supplies, hygiene and cosmetic
products and even in foods. In excess, these substances can cause severe damage to the human
body. According to US National Poisoning Data System, cosmetics and personal care products
lead the list of the most common substances implicated in pediatric poison exposures. As a matter
of fact, exposure to household toxins is linked to some diseases, most notably is cancer but they
are still widely marketed.
Table 1. Most Common Substances in Pediatric Poison Exposures
Source of Toxicants/Toxin
Cosmetics and Personal Care
Products
Cleaning Substances
Analgesics
Foreign Bodies/Toys/Miscellaneous
Topical Preparations
Vitamins
Antihistamines
Pesticides
GI Preparations
Plants

No. of Cases
150, 530

Percentage
14

118,207
100,399
72,099
62,053
48,214
45,915
35,152
28,460
27,941

11.0
9.3
6.7
5.8
4.5
4.3
3.3
2.7
2.6

Toxicity may be accounted to the chemical constituents of these products. Among of

these substances are ethanol and methanol.
Ethanol is an important component in beverages, cosmetics and cleaning substances.
Most wines contain less than about 13% ethanol by volume. Distilling the beers or wines can
increase the ethanol content up to about 35-50%. Ethanol is completely soluble in water. It is
rapidly absorbed through the stomach and small intestines and pass into the bloodstream. Alcohol
moves rapidly into the tissues, especially into organs with large blood supplies such as the brain.
Small amounts of alcohol act as a stimulant to many organs, but with increasing levels it begins
to act as a depressant. Ethanol disrupts the nerve cell membranes making the brain less receptive
to stimuli. At higher concentrations, the increased disruption to the nervous system results in a
deterioration of muscular coordination, slurred speech and difficulty in comprehension. Blood
alcohol concentrations above 0.36% can result in delirium, coma and even death. Treatment for
alcohol poisoning includes Flumazenil, naloxone, glucose, and thiamine.
Methanol or also called wood alcohol, comes from the fact that it was once obtained by
heating hardwoods in the absence of air. Methanol is commonly present in fuel and paint remover.
It is used as industrial and household solvents. Methanol slowly metabolized to formaldehyde by
alcohol dehydrogenase and then converted rapidly to formic acid leading to metabolic acidosis
and ocular toxicity. Signs and symptoms for methanol toxicity includes gastritis, metabolic
acidosis, visual disturbances, blurred vision which may lead to blindness, headache, dyspnea,
seizures, coma and death. Ethanol, fomepizole, folic acid and sodium bicarbonate are among the
treatment used in methanol poisoning.
2

The CDC recommends keeping toxic products such as cleaning solutions in their original
packaging, out of sight and out of reach of curious children. The Environmental Protection Agency
defines a toxic substance as any chemical or mixture that may be harmful to the environment and
to human health if inhaled, swallowed or absorbed through the skin.
Children are more vulnerable than adults to the adverse effects of chemical pollutants. Their
bodies are developing rapidly and their hand-to-mouth activities make them more susceptible to
toxic exposure, according to the Children's Environmental Health Network, which studies primarily
toxins in household products, home furnishings and building materials.

METHODOLOGY
a. Liebens Iodoform Test
A 0.5 ml of the Eliana Summer Crush Eau de Cologne in a test tube and added 8 drops of
diluted NaOH. Drop by drop of 0.1 N Iodine solution was added into the test tube until the
liquid remains yellow. Test tube was then warmed and color of the precipitate was noted.
Interferences: alcohols, aldehydes, ketone, acetic esters, lactic acid
b. Berthelots Test
To the sample, 2.5 ml benzoyl chloride was added and excess of diluted NaOH. Odor of the
product was noted.
c. Qualitative Test for Alcohols
To a previously diluted sulfuric acid moistened strip of filter paper, a 0.5 mL of potassium
dichromate was added. The papers were inserted in the neck of a test tube containing 1 mL
of the sample, blank and standard. Test tubes were stoppered and placed in a boiling water
bath for 2 minutes. Color change in the filter paper was noted.
Interferences: other volatile organic compounds
d. Ethyl acetate test
Add an equal amount of sulfuric acid to the sample. Then add a small amount of anhydrous
sodium acetate. Heat. Describe the odor of the product
Interference: other volatile reducing agents such as metaldehyde, methanol and paraldehyde

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Four tests were performed to qualitatively determine the presence of alcohol in two
colognes, namely Liebens Iodoform test, Berthelots test, Qualitative test for alcohols and Ethyl
Acetate test. The results and indications of these different tests are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Results and indications of two colognes in tests for presence for alcohol.

Test

Theoretical
Results

Liebens
Iodoform Test
Berthelots Test
Qualitative Test
for Alcohols

Ethyl Acetate
Test

Yellow
precipitate;
foul smell
Aromatic odor
Yellow to
green filter
paper; fruity
smell
Plastic
balloon odor

Actual Results
Eliana Summer
Lewis & Pearl
Crush Cologne
Cologne
Yellow precipitate Yellow solution;
in yellow solution;
aromatic smell
aromatic,
alcoholic smell
Sweet odor
Sweet odor
Yellow to blueYellow to bluegreen filter paper;
green filter
fruity odor
paper; fruity odor
Plastic balloon
odor

Plastic balloon
odor

Presence of
Alcohol
Positive

Positive
Positive

Positive

There are four stages in which iodoform is formed to confirm the presence of alcohol
through the Liebens Iodoform test. Iodine and sodium hydroxide form sodium hypoiodite by
reaction (a). This compound oxidizes ethanol to acetic aldehyde (b) and also substitutes iodine
for hydrogen in the latter. Finally, triiodoacetic aldehyde decomposes by excess sodium
hydroxide, forming iodoform and sodium formate (Warren, 1921). This results into yellowish-white
to lemon-yellow precipitate and a foul smell.
(a) 2NaOH + I2
NaI + H2O + NaOI
(b) CH3CH2OH + NaOI
CH3CHO + H2O + NaI
(c) CH3CHO + 3NaOI
3NaOH + CI3CHO
(d) CI3CHO + NaOH
CHI3 + HCOONa
Berthelots test shows the transition of the irritating of benzoyl chloride to the aromatic
smell of ethyl benzoate (Warren, 1921).
C6H6COCl + CH3CH2OH + NaOH

C6H5CO-OC2H5 + NaCl + H2O

The qualitative test for alcohols, on the other hand, oxidizes ethanol into an aldehyde,
and reduces orange chromium Cr+6 ion into blue-green Cr+3 ion (LIU Brooklyn, n.d.).
CH3CH2OH + H2Cr2O7

CH3CHO + Cr2 (SO4)3

CH3COOH

Lastly, the ethyl acetate test shows the reaction of sodium acetate to ethanol catalyzed
by sulfuric acid, resulting to a plastic balloon odor. (Warren, 1921).
CH3CH2OH + H2SO4
C2H6O-SO2OH + H2O
CH3COONa + C2H6O-SO2OH
CH3CO-OC2H5 + NaHSO4
All the theoretical results for the tests in alcohol were exhibited by the two samples, and
therefore confirms the presence of ethanol.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Eliana Summer Crush Eau de Cologne significantly contains alcohol. The presence of
toxic ethanol and methanol suggest that these products must be stored in places out of childrens
reach. It is recommended to quantify the amount of toxicant in the sample so that if ingestion
occurs, an intervention could be carefully chosen for the composition and concentration of the
alcohol ingested.

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LIU Brooklyn. (n.d.). Qualitative Tests for Alcohols, Alcohol Unknown, and IR of the Unknown.
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