Mar 21, 2023
The Magical Chemistry in Absinthe
PCMX, a low-toxicity disinfectant in our lives, exerts its antibacterial effect by destroying the membrane potential of cells. It is widely used in disinfection, as well as soap, hand sanitizer, antibacterial detergent, and other personal care products. Disinfection preparations such as Dettol and Walch both contain PCMX. Here’s an interesting phenomenon: adding water to Dettol gives a milky oil-in-water emulsion. This is due to the “Ouzo effect” (spontaneous emulsification). The most typical example of the Ouzo effect is the milky white oil-in-water particles produced when water is added to absinthe.
