Ethanol

Ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic compound</a> with the <a href="/facts/Chemical_formula/hghUtthl">chemical formula</a> CH3CH2OH. It is an <a href="/facts/Alcohol_(chemistry)/Y0SCTDkh">alcohol</a>, with its formula also written as C2H5OH, C2H6O or EtOH, where Et stands for <a href="/facts/Ethyl_group/ydVhnBwD">ethyl</a>. Ethanol is a <a href="/facts/Volatility_(chemistry)/90r3ep6w">volatile</a>, <a href="/facts/Flammable/1QexTQ4T">flammable</a>, colorless liquid with a characteristic <a href="/facts/Wine/JF0wHs7y">wine</a>-like odor and <a href="/facts/Pungent/rKbfU6EX">pungent</a> taste. As a <a href="/facts/Psychoactive/dNXrUmsx">psychoactive</a> <a href="/facts/Depressant/T5A9pvLB">depressant</a>, it is the active ingredient in <a href="/facts/Alcoholic_beverage/HSHVWBtX">alcoholic beverages</a>, and the second most consumed drug globally behind <a href="/facts/Caffeine/Hx6E2QC5">caffeine</a>.
Ethanol is naturally produced by the <a href="/facts/Fermentation/rxaDr28b">fermentation</a> process of <a href="/facts/Sugar/jb5KXRHT">sugars</a> by <a href="/facts/Yeast/eGD24nfI">yeasts</a> or via <a href="/facts/Petrochemical/mzYsaxng">petrochemical</a> processes such as <a href="/facts/Ethylene/QMNBYLYn">ethylene</a> hydration. Historically it was used as a <a href="/facts/General_anesthetic/YNM2tqty">general anesthetic</a>, and has modern medical applications as an <a href="/facts/Antiseptic/ua05WK9M">antiseptic</a>, <a href="/facts/Disinfectant/33fF2QzG">disinfectant</a>, solvent for some medications, and <a href="/facts/Antidote/l9rHGlko">antidote</a> for <a href="/facts/Methanol_poisoning/hC3Nllv4">methanol poisoning</a> and <a href="/facts/Ethylene_glycol_poisoning/9o0G9KwA">ethylene glycol poisoning</a>. It is used as a chemical <a href="/facts/Solvent/LoMPMz8S">solvent</a> and in the <a href="/facts/Chemical_synthesis/3KXsVVwC">synthesis</a> of organic compounds, and as a <a href="/facts/Alcohol_fuel/Qp6NClXw">fuel source</a> for lamps, stoves, and internal combustion engines. Ethanol also can be dehydrated to make ethylene, an important chemical feedstock. As of 2023, world production of ethanol fuel was 112.0 gigalitres (2.96×1010 US gallons), coming mostly from the U.S. (51%) and Brazil (26%).
The term “ethanol,” originates from the <a href="/facts/Ethyl_group/ydVhnBwD">ethyl group</a> coined in 1834 and was officially adopted in 1892, while “alcohol”—now referring broadly to similar compounds—originally described a powdered <a href="/facts/Cosmetics/rb1x6P8c">cosmetic</a> and only later came to mean ethanol specifically. Ethanol occurs naturally as a byproduct of <a href="/facts/Yeast/eGD24nfI">yeast</a> metabolism in environments like overripe fruit and palm blossoms, during plant <a href="/facts/Germination/BdNz4TyV">germination</a> under <a href="/facts/Anaerobic_digestion/EUaMIVpM">anaerobic</a> conditions, in <a href="/facts/Outer_space/R3LRKyFs">interstellar space</a>, in human breath, and in rare cases, is produced internally due to <a href="/facts/Auto-brewery_syndrome/CwXXNxP2">auto-brewery syndrome</a>.
Ethanol has been used since ancient times as an <a href="/facts/Psychoactive_drug/dNXrUmsx">intoxicant</a>. Production through <a href="/facts/Fermentation/rxaDr28b">fermentation</a> and <a href="/facts/Distillation/plDvUMxn">distillation</a> evolved over centuries across various cultures. Chemical identification and synthetic production began by the 19th century.

Ethanol open-in-new

Ethanol