Ethanol

Product Details

Ethanol CAS#64-17-5

Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, or simply alcohol, is a clear, colorless, volatile, and flammable solvent with a characteristic odor. It has a boiling point of approximately 78.5°C and is naturally found in alcoholic beverages. Concentrated ethanol has a strong burning taste, while diluted ethanol may have a slightly sweet taste.

Ethanol is also increasingly used as a fuel, either as a replacement for or an additive to gasoline. With a low melting point of approximately -114.5°C, it is suitable for use in antifreeze products.

Product Usage

Medical
Ethanol solutions with concentrations of 70–85% are commonly used as disinfectants, acting by denaturing proteins and dissolving lipids. Ethanol also has various medical and pharmaceutical applications and is used in products such as pharmaceuticals, medical wipes, and as a preservative in many antibacterial hand sanitizer gels. In addition, acetaldehyde is used as a detoxifying agent due to its higher affinity for the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), competitively inhibiting the formation of toxic metabolites following the ingestion of toxic alcohols.

Fuel
Ethanol is flammable and burns more cleanly than many conventional fuels. It can be used as a cooking fuel and as an alternative to wood, charcoal, propane, or lighting fuels such as kerosene.

Others
Ethanol used as an intermediate in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries is often required to meet high purity standards. It can also be used in deicing and antifreeze formulations for cleaning automobile windshields. In addition, ethanol is commonly found in perfumes, deodorants, and various other cosmetic products.

 Key Physical & Chemical Properties