Vodka for Chemistry

I'm commonly asked why many chemistry 'recipes' call for vodka or everclear as opposed to medical-grade ethanol (alcohol). The answer is simple: It's easy and inexpensive to obtain vodka, while obtaining medical-grade ethanol, even if you have a permit, can be expensive. Aside from the idiotic regulations surrounding ethanol, it's a flammable substance, so shipping costs can be prohibitive for small institutions. Many projects call for alcohol as an organic solvent. Vodka tends to be used when the alcohol needs to be ethanol, when the presence of a small amount of water is acceptable, or when the material has medical/biological applications.
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