LAB REPORT

Synthesis of hydroalcoholic gel

Pangpun Prawfah Roruangkul 5861123

Medkao Neeracha Lokunpai 5861078
Roong Rawisara Thongchantra 5861132
Kim Thanakorn Angkasirisan 5861166
Mai Yonlada Nawilaijaroen 5861186

ADVANCED CHEMISTRY 1102

Ms. Patraporn Sanguansat

Mahidol University Demonstration International School

Semester 1 Academic Year 2016 - 2017
Abstract

Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol is an organic compound which has a hydroxyl (OH) as the
functional group. It is commonly used in hand gel which is used to kill bacteria. This lab
experiment creates a hand sanitizer gel by mixing an ethyl alcohol with carbopol, propylene
glycol, triethanolamine, and distilled water. Each has the specific property to form a good hand
gel. first, they form a heterogeneous solution which turns to homogeneous after a day. During the
process, the gel can be adjusted the color and smell, by adding the color agenting and fragrances,
to make it more suitable for use. From the colorless organic compounds, they are mixed, turning
into a colorful aromatic gel to be utilized in daily life.

Purpose

To create the hydro alcoholic hand gel

To investigate the properties of the organic compound

Introduction

In the lab experiment, the students are given the chemicals which some of them are the
organic compounds since the purpose of this lab is to investigate the properties of those
compounds and to create the hydroalcoholic hand gel. The chemicals used are carbopol, alcohol,
propylene glycol and triethanolamine. A variety of advantages exist for alcohol hand sanitizers
over regular hand washing. Firstly, it is convenient to use an alcohol sanitizer. Unlike water and a
sink, the alcohol sanitizer is available everywhere. Moreover, by applying hand sanitizer, it takes
less time than washing with the soap. Lastly, an hydroalcoholic gel, containing 60-70% of
alcohol, is very effective in reducing the spread of germs and pathogens.

Since the hand gel is mostly composed of ethyl alcohol, it is important to acknowledge
its significance. Ethyl alcohol has a molecular formula of C2H5OH. The hydroxyl group [-OH]
is the functional group that can be found in alcohol. It can be described as a colorless liquid
which can be soluble in water. It also has an odor. The melting point of ethanol is -114.1C and it
boils at 78.5C. The reason that ethanol is used in hand gel is it able to kill bacteria by
dissociating the bacterias cellular membrane. The -OH end of the ethanol dissolves well in
water, while the other end dissolves well in fatty-like substances. The bacteria cell membranes
are like water on the outside and like fat on the inside. Therefore, when ethanol is applied to a
cell membrane, it causes the membrane to fall apart. Thus, it is appropriate in using as a hand gel
to kill germs.
Materials

Chemicals

Carbopol940 1.5 g Distilled water 128 ml Ethyl alcohol 95% 370 ml

Propylene glycol 5 ml Triethanolaminen 1.5 g Coloring agent (Food

grade)

Aroma essential oil

 Apparatus
Hot plate magnetic bar 600 ml Beaker

Weighing paper 10 ml cylinder 50 ml beaker

100 ml beaker Stirring rod Dropper

Container
Procedure

1. Dissolve 1.5 grams of Carbopol 940 with 128 ml of

distilled water

2. Heatat at
2. Heat 100 100 C, stirring
C, stirring for 5-10
for 5-10 minutes by using
minutes
magnetic bar by using magnetic bar

3. Then, add 370 ml of ethyl alcohol and 5 ml of propylene

glycol, further blend for 5 minutes

4. Gently drop 1.5 grams of triethanolamine until it mix well

5. Leave at room temperature at least 15 minutes, gel should form during this time.

6. Adjust color and essential oil.

Result

From colorless chemical with alcohol smell like liquid,the result of the experiment was
hand gel with different smell and color for each persons adjustment. The gel, at first, was sticky
liquid and colorless. It also had strong alcohol smell and wasnt yet homogeneously. After
adjusting the smell and color, it became more colorful and have a good smell. Nevertheless, the
texture was still heterogenous. After some amount of time, approximately 1 day, the gel was
formed and heterogenous texture became to homogenous texture.

Discussion

The properties of each chemical were shown through the experiment.Start from Carbopol
which role in this lab is the thickening agent which makes the solution become more sticky.
Distilled water act as a solvent that help dissolve all of the mixture into one. 95% ethyl alcohol
was mixed to act as an antiseptic to kill bacteria. Propylene glycol is a moisturizer which prevent
hands from being too dry from washing. Triethanolamine turns the solution into gel. The product
of the lab is in gel form which has the ethanal smell, so after adjusted the smell by dropping
some aromatic oil, the smell of the gel become better, and when adjusting the color of the gel
using coloring agent, the gel become nicer and ready to be used.

Pictures

4
3

Number 1 2 3 4
Color Pink Orange Pink Green
Green
Pink
Odor Lavender Lemon Lavender Green Tea
Green Tea
Green Tea
Errors

There are some errors occurred during the experiment. As amount of Triethanolamine
didnt need to be fixed, during the experiment,more than 1.5 g of Triethanolamine was poured in
the solution which made solution became thicker than usual. Thus affected the magnetic bar to
not be able to stir the solution. Eventually, the member had to stir the solution by hand instead of
using magnetic bar.

Conclusion

In this experiment, the hand gel with colorful and aromatic smell is created and the
organic compounds are investigated. At first, the solution was colorless, alcohol like smell, and
had heterogeneous texture however, after the smell and and color are adjusted, different members
within the group get different smell and color of the gel according to their choices.
References

Essential Oil Uses. (n.d.). Retrieved in May 19, 2017 from http://www.aromaweb.com/articles/
uses.asp

Ethanol. (n.d.). Retrieved in May 19, 2017 from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/

ethanol#section=Top

Gels.(n.d.). Retrieved in May 19, 2017 from http://pharmlabs.unc.edu/labs/gels/agents.htm

Propylene Glycol: The Complicated Additive with Potential Dangerous Side Effects. (n.d.).
Retrieved in 19 May, 2017 from https://draxe.com/propylene-glycol/

Substance Name: Carbomer 934 [USAN]. (n.d.). Retrieved in May 19, 2017 from https://
chem.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/rn/9003-01-4

Trietanolamine.(n.d.). Retrieved in May 19, 2017 from http://www.cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient/

triethanolamine

What Is Distilled Water?. (n.d.). Retrieved in May 19, 2017 from https://www.thoughtco.com/
what-is-distilled-water-609411