Alcohol

In general usage, alcohol (from Arabic al-khwl الكحول, or al-ghawl الغول) refers almost always to ethanol, also known as grain alcohol, and often to any beverage that contains ethanol (see alcoholic beverage). This sense underlies the term alcoholism (addiction to alcohol). Other forms of alcohol are usually described with a clarifying adjective, as in isopropyl alcohol or by the suffix -ol, as in isopropanol.

Related Topics:
Arabic - Ethanol - Alcoholic beverage - Alcoholism - Addiction - Isopropyl alcohol

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In chemistry, alcohol is a more general term, applied to any organic compound in which a hydroxyl group (-OH) is bound to a carbon atom, which in turn is bound to other hydrogen and/or carbon atoms. The general formula for a simple alcohol containing no rings is CnH2n+1OH.

Related Topics:
Chemistry - Organic compound - Hydroxyl group - O - H - Carbon

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As a drug, common alcohol (ethanol) is known to have a depressing effect that decreases the responses of the central nervous system.

Related Topics:
Drug - Depressing effect - Central nervous system

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