Ethanol

Use

Ethanol can be used as an alcohol fuel (often mixed with gasoline) and in a wide variety of industrial processes. Ethanol is also used in antifreeze products for its low freezing point. The state in the United States that produces the most ethanol used in automobiles is Iowa.

Related Topics:
Alcohol fuel - Gasoline - Antifreeze - United States - Iowa

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It is easily soluble in water in all proportions with a slight overall decrease in volume when the two are mixed. Absolute ethanol and 95% ethanol are themselves good solvents, somewhat less polar than water and used in perfumes, paints and tinctures. Other proportions of ethanol with water or other solvents can also be used as a solvent. Alcoholic drinks have a large variety of tastes because various flavor compounds are dissolved during brewing. When ethanol is produced as a mixing beverage it is a neutral grain spirit.

Related Topics:
Soluble - Water - Solvent - Perfume - Paint - Tincture - Brewing - Neutral grain spirit

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A solution of 70-85% of ethanol is commonly used as a disinfectant, used in most common antibacterial hand sanitizer gels at a concentration of about 62%. Oddly enough, the peak of the disinfecting power occurs around 75% ethanol; stronger and weaker solutions of ethanol have a lessened ability to disinfect. Ethanol kills organisms by denaturing their proteins and dissolving their lipids and is effective against most bacteria and fungi, and many viruses, but is ineffective against bacterial spores. Because of this disinfectant property, alcoholic beverages can be stored for a long time.

Related Topics:
Protein - Lipid - Bacteria - Fungi - Virus - Spore

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The hydroxyl group on the ethanol molecule is an extremely weak acid, but upon treatment alkali metal or a very strong base, an H+ can be removed to form an ethoxide ion, C2H5O-.

Related Topics:
Hydroxyl group - Molecule - Alkali metal - Strong base

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