[Histonet] Dating for Alcohol

[Rene J Buesa]

Alcohol will absorb water vapor from the atmosphere and if the container is not properly closed will degrade from 100% (200 proof). If you start with 95% (190 proof) that is not a very big problem.
Reagent alcohol (we are referring to ethanol, of course) that needs to be used pure, is usually stored with added anhydrous copper sulfate that will settle on the bottom of the flask and will turn from white to blue while absorbind the water that slowly contaminates tha ethanol. Usually you will not need it so pure.
The answer to your question is NO, ethanol does not need an experimation date. In histology you will never need it to such purity level.
Complete dehydration of tissues can be achieved with "less than pure" ethanol.
René J.

--- On Tue, 9/27/11, Dave Johnson <djohnson <@t> mercedesmedical.com> wrote:


From: Dave Johnson <djohnson <@t> mercedesmedical.com>
Subject: [Histonet] Dating for Alcohol
To: "'histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu'" <histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu>
Date: Tuesday, September 27, 2011, 8:53 AM


I have heard confliciting opinions.

Do Alcohol require an expiration date?  Does anyone have a link to the regs on this

Thanks
Dave Johnson
Mercedes Medical


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