Products Description
Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, or simply alcohol, is a clear, colorless, volatile, and flammable liquid with a characteristic odor. It has a boiling point of approximately 78.5°C and is naturally present in alcoholic beverages. Concentrated ethanol has a strong, pungent taste, while diluted ethanol exhibits a mildly sweet flavor. In addition to its applications in various industrial and chemical processes, ethanol is increasingly used as an alternative or additive to conventional gasoline. Furthermore, its relatively low melting point of approximately -114.5°C makes it suitable for use in antifreeze formulations and other low-temperature applications.
Chemical Properties
Melting point | -114°C |
Boiling point | 78°C |
density | 0.789 g/mL at 20 °C |
vapor density | 1.59 (vs air) |
vapor pressure | 43 mmHg at 20 °C |
refractive index | 1.3614 |
FEMA | 2419 | ETHYL ALCOHOL |
Fp | 12°C |
storage temp. | room temp |
solubility | water: soluble (completely) |
pka | 16(at 25℃) |
form | Liquid. Colorless liquid / invisible vapor. |
color | APHA: ≤10 |
Specific Gravity | 0.80872～0.81601 |
Relative polarity | 0.654 |
PH | 7.0 (10g/l, H2O, 20℃) |
Odor | Pleasant alcoholic odor detectable at 49 to 716 ppm (mean = 180 ppm) |
explosive limit | 3.1-27.7%(V)(ethanol) |
Odor Threshold | 0.52ppm |
Odor Type | alcoholic |
Water Solubility | miscible |
Sensitive | Hygroscopic |
λmax | λ: 240 nm Amax: 0.40 |
Merck | 14,3760 |
JECFA Number | 41 |
BRN | 1718733 |
Exposure limits | TLV-TWA 1900 mg/m3 (1000 ppm) (ACGIH). |
Dielectric constant | 24.3（25℃） |
Stability: | Stable. Substances to be avoided include strong oxidizing agents, peroxides, acids, acid chlorides, acid anhydrides, alkali metals, ammonia, moisture. Forms explosive mixtures with air. Hygroscopic. |
LogP | -0.19 |
CAS DataBase Reference | 64-17-5(CAS DataBase Reference) |
IARC | 1 (Vol. 96, 100E) 2012 |
NIST Chemistry Reference | Ethanol(64-17-5) |
EPA Substance Registry System | Ethanol (64-17-5) |
Safety Information
Hazard Codes | F,T,Xn,N |
Risk Statements | 11-10-36/37/38-39/23/24/25-23/24/25-68/20/21/22-20/21/22-52/53-51/53 |
Safety Statements | 16-7-36-26-45-36/37-61-24/25-2017/7/16 |
RIDADR | 1170 |
OEB | A |
OEL | TWA: 1000 ppm (1900 mg/m3) |
WGK Germany | nwg |
RTECS | KQ6300000 |
Autoignition Temperature | 363 °C |
TSCA | Yes |
HazardClass | 3 |
PackingGroup | II |
HS Code | 22071000 |
Hazardous Substances Data | 64-17-5(Hazardous Substances Data) |
Toxicity | LD50 in young, old rats (g/kg): 10.6, 7.06 orally (Wiberg) |
IDLA | 3,300 ppm [10% LEL] |
Product Applications
Medical Applications
Ethanol solutions with concentrations of 70–85% are widely used as disinfectants due to their ability to destroy microorganisms by denaturing proteins and dissolving lipid membranes. Ethanol also has numerous medical and pharmaceutical applications, including its use in pharmaceutical formulations, medical wipes, and as a preservative in many antibacterial hand sanitizers. In addition, acetaldehyde has been investigated for its role in alcohol metabolism and toxicological processes, although it is itself a toxic metabolite.
Fuel Applications
Ethanol is a flammable fuel that generally burns cleaner than many conventional fuels. It can be used as an alternative energy source for cooking, replacing traditional fuels such as wood, charcoal, and propane. It can also serve as a substitute for certain lighting fuels, including kerosene.
Other Applications
Ethanol used as an intermediate or processing solvent in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries is often supplied in high-purity grades. It is also used in deicing and antifreeze formulations, particularly for automotive windshield cleaning applications. Furthermore, ethanol is a common ingredient in perfumes, deodorants, and a wide range of other cosmetic and personal care products.
