Chemistry, cleaning: ADBAC, part 1

Self-tutoring about chemistry and cleaning products: the tutor mentions something he noticed on a label.

The following is according to my understanding.

The other day I was cleaning a surface with a common-brand cleaning/disinfecting wipe, which I thought was an alcohol wipe. I’ve used the product many times. Yet, I checked the label, out of curiosity.

I was interested to discover it’s not an alcohol wipe. Rather, its active ingredient is alkyldimethylbenzylammoniumchloride, or ADBAC. Said compound is a biocide, meaning it is used to eliminate microscopic biological hazards.

The structure of ADBAC is a central nitrogen atom bonded to an alkane at one site, a benzene ring at another, and then two methanes at two other sites. Said species will be positively charged; ionically speaking, it’s associated with a chloride ion. Hence, ADBAC is water soluble.

There is potentially much more to discuss about ADBAC; I hope to follow up in a future post. A general rule of thumb seems to be that it’s safe to use as directed.

Source:

publications.gc.ca

canada.ca