Chemically, ethyl alcohol or ethanol (CH3-CH2-OH) is an organic compound part of the alkanol family.
It is a colorless liquid with a burning taste and a characteristic odour. Its specific gravity at 20 C is 0.785 g/ml, and its boiling point is 78.4 C
Ethanol may be produced synthetically
by oxidation of ethylene gas.
(hydration reaction)
Ethyl alcohol can form hydrogen-bonds and exhibits intermolecular associations the same manner as water:C2H4 + H2O ---> CH3-CH2-OH
In fact, distilled alcohol
always contains traces of water from the distillation mixture (4 to 6%).
Such compounds are referred to as azeotropes.
To obtain 99%+ alcohol, the
water must be removed (treatment with anhydrous CaO).
*Unlike water, ethanol has a non-polar ethyl portion capable of Van der Waals interactions.
The chemical properties of
alcohol are thus a balance between its polar -OH group and its non-polar
hydrocarbon group (CH3-CH2-).
| These "dual" molecules display many properties similar to those of detergents (which are said to be AMPHIPATHIC). |
