We drink ethanol, and it travels through our blood. Why doesn't it lyse at least SOME cells in our blood?

 

~EE

Because it is very inefficient even at relative high concentrations. Ethanol does not intercalate well into membranes as other chaotropic agents, if that is what you imagine. It does not mean that it does not do some cell damage though that ultimately may induce apoptosis in some cells (though the question is rather vague in that aspect).

I always thought ethanol was a strong enough solvent to solubilize cell membranes. Is it's lack of solvency due to its short carbon chain?

 

-Drinking butanol or hexanol would probably cause cell lysing then right?

 

 

~EE

Butanol and water are not miscible, although ethanol and water obviously are. When we consume ethanol, its concentration is quite low in our bloodstream, around 0.1%. BTW different countries calculate BAC slightly differently, but I think that the difference is small enough to be neglected for the purpose of this conversation.

A side note. Alcohol is said to damage brain cells.First the weak cells. That's why we are smarter and better dancers while drinking. LOL