Ethanol . Chemical compound known as ethyl alcohol, is an alcohol that appears under normal pressure and temperature conditions as a colorless and flammable liquid with a boiling point of 78.4 °C.
Summary
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- 1 Main features
- 2 Physical properties
- 3 Chemical properties
- 4 Obtain
- 5 Applications
- 6 Toxicology
- 7 Fuente
Main features
Ethyl alcohol or ethanol is an alcohol that appears as a colorless and flammable liquid with a boiling point of 78 °C. When mixed with water in any proportion, it gives an azeotropic mixture. It is a transparent and colorless liquid, with a burnt flavor and a characteristic pleasant odour. It is known simply by the name of alcohol.
Its chemical formula is CH 3 -CH 2 -OH, the main product of alcoholic beverages.
Ethanol is the alcohol found in beverages such as beer , cider , wine , and brandy . Due to its low freezing point, it has been used as a fluid in thermometers to measure temperatures below the freezing point of mercury , -40 °C, and as an antifreeze in automobile radiators.
Ethanol is normally concentrated by distillation of dilute solutions. The one for commercial use contains 95% by volume of ethanol and 5% of water . Certain dehydrating agents extract residual water and produce absolute ethanol. Ethanol has a melting point of -114.1°C, a boiling point of 78.5°C, and a relative density of 0.789 at 20°C.
physical properties
- State of aggregation Liquid
- colorless appearance
- Density 810kg/m3; (0.810g/cm3)
- Molecular mass 46.07 um
- Melting point 158.9 K (-114.1 °C)
- Boiling point 351.6 K (78.6 °C)
- Critical temperature 514 K (241 °C)
- Critical pressure 63 atm.
Chemical properties
- Acidity (pKa) 15.9
- Miscible water solubility
- KPS n/d
- Dipole moment n/d D
- thermochemistry
- H0 gas -235.3 kJ/mol
- Liquid H0 -277.6 kJ/mol
- S0 liquid, 1 bar 161.21 J•mol-1•K-1
- Values in the SI and in normal conditions
- (0 °C and 1 atm), unless otherwise indicated.
- Waivers and referrals
obtaining
To obtain water-free ethanol, azeotropic distillation is applied in a mixture with benzene or cyclohexane.
From these mixtures, the azeotrope, formed by the auxiliary solvent with the water, is distilled at lower temperatures, while the ethanol remains retained. Another currently widely used purification method is physical absorption using molecular sieves.
On a laboratory scale, desiccants such as magnesium can also be used , which reacts with water to form hydrogen and magnesium oxide .
Applications
Ethanol is widely used in the preparation of alcoholic beverages , in the pharmaceutical and industrial sectors, the chemical industry uses it as a starting compound in the synthesis of various products, such as ethyl acetate, diethyl ether is also used in the preparation of perfumes and air fresheners. It is used as industrial and domestic fuel.
Toxicology
It prevents the correct coordination of the limbs, temporary loss of vision . It can affect the central nervous system causing dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, states of euphoria, temporary loss of vision.
In certain cases there is an increase in the irritability of the intoxicated subject as well as in aggressiveness; in a certain number of individuals the area that controls impulses is affected, becoming impulsively uncontrolled and frantic. Ultimately, it leads to coma and can lead to death.
