The key difference between acetone and methylated spirits is that the acetone is a colourless liquid, whereas the methylated spirit is a violet coloured solution.
Acetone and methylated spirits are two different organic solutions. That is; the acetone is the simplest ketone, and it occurs as a colourless liquid having a high purity. On the other hand, the methylated spirits refer to ethanol containing methanol, which is poisonous to drink.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Acetone
3. What are Methylated Spirits
4. Side by Side Comparison – Acetone vs Methylated Spirits in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Acetone?
Acetone is an organic compound having the chemical formula (CH3)2CO. It occurs as a colourless and flammable liquid that is highly volatile. It is the simplest and smallest ketone. The molar mass is 58.08 g/mol. It has a pungent, irritating odour and is miscible with water. Also, this compound is common as a polar solvent. The polarity is due to the high electronegativity difference between carbon and oxygen atoms of the carbonyl group. However, it is not that much polar; thus, it can dissolve both lipophilic and hydrophilic substances.
Our body can produce acetone in normal metabolic processes and also disposes it from the body through different mechanisms. Furthermore, on the industrial scale, the production method includes direct or indirect production from propylene. The common process is the cumene process.
What are Methylated Spirits?
A methylated spirit is an alcohol that is not suitable for drinking because of the presence of methanol. Usually, manufacturers make it unfit for drinking by adding methanol(10%). Typically, this solution contains some pyridine and violet dye as well. The common name we use for this substance is denatured alcohol.
Moreover, the additives in this solution make it poisonous. It also has a bad-taste and a foul smell. Sometimes, manufacturers tend to add a dye, i.e. violet dye, to distinguish the denatured alcohol from drinking alcohol. The major use of this substance is as a solvent. It is also useful as a fuel.
What is the Difference Between Acetone and Methylated Spirits?
Both acetone and methylated spirits are organic compounds. But, the key difference between acetone and methylated spirits is that the acetone is colourless liquid, whereas the methylated spirit is a violet coloured solution. Moreover, acetone is a pure liquid, but methylated spirits have ethanol containing 10% methanol and other additives such as dye.
Besides, the acetone is the simplest ketone, and it occurs as a colourless liquid having a high purity. On the other hand, the methylated spirits refer to ethanol containing methanol, which is poisonous to drink. Also, another difference between acetone and methylated spirits is their uses. Acetone is used as a solvent and as a reactant for different synthesis processes in organic chemistry, whereas methylated spirits are used as a solvent and as a fuel.
The following infographic summarizes the difference between acetone and methylated spirits.
Summary – Acetone vs Methylated Spirits
Basically, both acetone and methylated spirits are organic compounds. However, the acetone is the simplest ketone, and it occurs as a colourless liquid having a high purity. On the other hand, the methylated spirits refer to ethanol containing methanol, which is poisonous to drink. So, the key difference between acetone and methylated spirits is that the acetone is colourless liquid, whereas the methylated spirit is a violet coloured solution. Thus, it is quite easy to identify the difference between acetone and methylated spirits at first glance.
Reference:
1. Brown, William H. “Acetone.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Acetone” – O. Usher (UCL Mathematical and Physical Sciences) (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “MethylatedSpirits bottle” By Longhair at English Wikipedia – Self-photographed (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia