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  3. Chemistry; Chem Sci/Eng

Etanolo di 95°

English translation: not for points

17:43 Jul 5, 2007
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Science - Chemistry; Chem Sci/Eng
Italian term or phrase: Etanolo di 95°
The analysis method I am translating refers to this type of ethanol in the following context:

Rimuovere l'eventuale etichetta da un flacone lavandone poi le pareti con Etanolo di 95° ed asciugare.

My question is about the degree symbol. I cannot seem to find any confirmation for 95° ethanol, although I do find a few Italian Google hits for Etanolo di 95°.

Does this simply mean 95% ethanol and if so, why is the degree symbol used? I would greatly appreciate any ideas.

MTIA
Julianne Rowland
United States
Local time: 07:03
English translation:not for points
Explanation:
Texjax should certainly post an answer and receive the points she deserves, but just to clarify:

the proof system is a historical system used to measure the strength of an alcoholic liquid. 1% alcohol = 2° proof. It's still used sometimes to describe the strength of spirits - an 80° proof rum will contain 40% alcohol, for example.

However, I've noticed on several occasions that in Italian the ° symbol is used as a direct equivalent of %. I have no idea whether this is actually correct (in the Italian system) or not - I just know from my own previous translations that this is the case (I had a file last year in which "etanolo 96° reagente analitico" was cited - now 96% ethanol is as concentrated as you can get by distillation and is a very common reagent, whereas 96° proof (i.e. 48%) is pretty meaningless.

So you can rest assured that it does mean 95% ethanol, altohugh I doubt that it's a printing error.
Selected response from:

Marie-Hélène Hayles
Local time: 13:03
Grading comment
Thank you everyone for your input! I think someone deserves points, and since texjax didn't actually post an offical answer, I can't award her the points she deserves. I think Marie-Hélène's very helpful explanation deserves credit, though. Thanks again to everyone.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3not for points
Marie-Hélène Hayles


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
not for points


Explanation:
Texjax should certainly post an answer and receive the points she deserves, but just to clarify:

the proof system is a historical system used to measure the strength of an alcoholic liquid. 1% alcohol = 2° proof. It's still used sometimes to describe the strength of spirits - an 80° proof rum will contain 40% alcohol, for example.

However, I've noticed on several occasions that in Italian the ° symbol is used as a direct equivalent of %. I have no idea whether this is actually correct (in the Italian system) or not - I just know from my own previous translations that this is the case (I had a file last year in which "etanolo 96° reagente analitico" was cited - now 96% ethanol is as concentrated as you can get by distillation and is a very common reagent, whereas 96° proof (i.e. 48%) is pretty meaningless.

So you can rest assured that it does mean 95% ethanol, altohugh I doubt that it's a printing error.

Marie-Hélène Hayles
Local time: 13:03
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 132
Grading comment
Thank you everyone for your input! I think someone deserves points, and since texjax didn't actually post an offical answer, I can't award her the points she deserves. I think Marie-Hélène's very helpful explanation deserves credit, though. Thanks again to everyone.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Michele Fauble
3 hrs
agree  James (Jim) Davis: :: Best of Ukraine :: some interesting facts about vodkaVodka usually has an alcohol content ranging from 35 to 60 percent by volume. The classic Ukrainian or Russian vodka is 40 percent (80 degrees proof), ...
8 hrs
agree  Lapo Luchini: yes "alcool a 90 gradi" (gradi==degree) is the most used term, they are calculated out of a maximum of 100 "max degrees" so it's basically %, dunno why the use of "gradi", probably for historical reasons
10 hrs
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