Why 70 percent alcohol are more potent than 80 alcohol?

Here's why:

* Potency refers to the strength or effectiveness of a substance. In the case of alcohol, a higher percentage generally means a stronger solution, making it more potent.

* Alcohol concentration is measured by volume. 70% alcohol means 70 ml of alcohol is present in 100 ml of solution, while 80% alcohol means 80 ml of alcohol is present in 100 ml of solution.

* Therefore, 80% alcohol is more potent than 70% alcohol because it contains a higher concentration of alcohol.

It's possible that you've heard that 70% alcohol is more effective at killing bacteria than 80% alcohol. This is true, but for a different reason:

* 70% alcohol is optimal for killing bacteria because it can penetrate cell membranes more effectively. Higher concentrations can actually denature proteins and coagulate the cell surface, preventing the alcohol from fully penetrating the cell and killing it.

In summary, while 70% alcohol is more effective for disinfection, 80% alcohol is more potent due to its higher concentration of alcohol.