Mike,
Alcohols belong to a class of organic compounds that contain oxygen.
CH3OH is methanol. It's used in racing fuels, and windshield washer fluids, among other things. It's also called wood alcohol, wood naphtha, and Columbian spirits.
CH3CH2OH is ethanol. It's used in the production of gasohol, is the alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, and is the functional ingredient in waterless hand cleaners--like Purell and other manufacturers make. Ethanol causes bacterial cell walls to break apart (lyse), thereby killing them. It also goes by the name "grain alcohol".
(CH3)2CHOH is 2-propanol-- better known as isopropyl alcohol-- is the stuff you get at the grocery store called "rubbing alcohol". Normally, rubbing alcohol is about 70% isopropyl alcohol in water. Isopropyl is also used industrially as a cleaning agent in concentrations of about 99%, and is also used as the wipes you get before you get a shot at the doctor's office. This stuff is called IPA, isopropyl alcohol, and 2-propanol.
There are other alcohols (butanol, pentanol, etc.), but I'll just stick to the more common.
Because alcohols can interact by hydrogen bonding with water, they are quite soluble in water. As a matter of fact, methanol, ethanol and propanol are soluble in water in all proportions (i.e., infinitely soluble). They also have higher boiling points than their constitutional isomers. For example, ethanol (CH3CH2OH) has a higher boiling point (78 degrees C) than dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3) does (-24 degrees C). Alcohols can also act as very weak acids or bases.
Toxicity is different for each alcohol.
Methanol has an allowable 8-hour exposure of 200 ppm, and a short term exposure limit (15 minutes) of 250 ppm. This material can also be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through intact skin. It affects the central nervous system and can cause neuropathies, vision problems, etc.
Ethanol has an allowable 8-hour exposure of 1000 ppm. Studies have found ethanol to be teratogenic (affects developing fetuses). Maybe you've heard of fetal alcohol syndrome.
Propanol has an allowable 8-hour exposure of 400 ppm, with an allowable short term exposure (15 mins.) of 500 ppm. It cause irritation of the mucous membranes, and like the other alcohols can cause defatting of the skin.
These alcohols are also flammable.
Methanol--flash point = 52 degrees F
Ethanol--flash point = 55 degrees F
Propanol--flash point = 53 degrees F
Any of the alcohols can be used to clean the acrylics from an airbrush, or thin acrylic enamels, although I think IPA is the best choice. I've never heard of ethyl rubbing alcohol, although I see no reason why it shouldn't exist; however, I'm not sure why it would contain acetone.
What else you wanna know?
Hope this helps a little, my friend.
Gip