ethanol | Definition, Formula, Uses, & Facts | Britannica

ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, or alcohol, a member of a class of organic compounds that are given the general name alcohols; ... ethanol TableofContents Introduction FastFacts Facts&RelatedContent Media Videos Images More MoreArticlesOnThisTopic Contributors ArticleHistory Home Health&Medicine Conditions&Diseases Trauma ethanol chemicalcompound Alternatetitles:ethylalcohol,grainalcohol,methylcarbinol Print Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/science/ethanol More GiveFeedback ExternalWebsites Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). FeedbackType Selectatype(Required) FactualCorrection Spelling/GrammarCorrection LinkCorrection AdditionalInformation Other YourFeedback SubmitFeedback Thankyouforyourfeedback Oureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle. JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork! ExternalWebsites NationalCenterforBiotechnologyInformation-PubChem-Ethanol AustralianGovernment-DepartmentofEnvironmentandEnergy-Ethanol FoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations-EthylAlcohol By TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannica • EditHistory RelatedTopics: alcohol biofuel cellulosicethanol neurotoxin ...(Showmore) Seeallrelatedcontent→ ethanol,alsocalledethylalcohol,grainalcohol,oralcohol,amemberofaclassoforganiccompoundsthataregiventhegeneralnamealcohols;itsmolecularformulaisC2H5OH.Ethanolisanimportantindustrialchemical;itisusedasasolvent,inthesynthesisofotherorganicchemicals,andasanadditivetoautomotivegasoline(formingamixtureknownasagasohol).Ethanolisalsotheintoxicatingingredientofmanyalcoholicbeveragessuchasbeer,wine,anddistilledspirits.Therearetwomainprocessesforthemanufactureofethanol:thefermentationofcarbohydrates(themethodusedforalcoholicbeverages)andthehydrationofethylene.Fermentationinvolvesthetransformationofcarbohydratestoethanolbygrowingyeastcells.Thechiefrawmaterialsfermentedfortheproductionofindustrialalcoholaresugarcropssuchasbeetsandsugarcaneandgraincropssuchascorn(maize).Hydrationofethyleneisachievedbypassingamixtureofethyleneandalargeexcessofsteamathightemperatureandpressureoveranacidiccatalyst. BritannicaQuiz 44QuestionsfromBritannica’sMostPopularHealthandMedicineQuizzes Howmuchdoyouknowabouthumananatomy?Howaboutmedicalconditions?Thebrain?You’llneedtoknowalottoanswer44ofthehardestquestionsfromBritannica’smostpopularquizzesabouthealthandmedicine. Ethanolproducedeitherbyfermentationorbysynthesisisobtainedasadiluteaqueoussolutionandmustbeconcentratedbyfractionaldistillation.Directdistillationcanyieldatbesttheconstant-boiling-pointmixturecontaining95.6percentbyweightofethanol.Dehydrationoftheconstant-boiling-pointmixtureyieldsanhydrous,orabsolute,alcohol.Ethanolintendedforindustrialuseisusuallydenatured(renderedunfittodrink),typicallywithmethanol,benzene,orkerosene.Pureethanolisacolourlessflammableliquid(boilingpoint78.5°C[173.3°F])withanagreeableetherealodourandaburningtaste.Ethanolistoxic,affectingthecentralnervoussystem.Moderateamountsrelaxthemusclesandproduceanapparentstimulatingeffectbydepressingtheinhibitoryactivitiesofthebrain,butlargeramountsimpaircoordinationandjudgment,finallyproducingcomaanddeath.Itisanaddictivedrugforsomepersons,leadingtothediseasealcoholism.Ethanolisconvertedinthebodyfirsttoacetaldehydeandthentocarbondioxideandwater,attherateofabouthalfafluidounce,or15ml,perhour;thisquantitycorrespondstoadietaryintakeofabout100calories.TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannicaThisarticlewasmostrecentlyrevisedandupdatedbyAdamAugustyn.