CHEMISTRY OF ALCOHOL

M A S O N P R I C E Methanol

Ethanol

WHAT DO WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY ALCOHOL?

• Alcohol – any organic compound containing OH-

• Alcohol is used in fuel, paint, disinfectants, plastics and even beverages.

• Alcohol usually refers to either ethanol or methanol, the most commonly used members of the alcohol family.

METHANOL

CH3OH

• Methanol is extremely toxic to humans and also very flammable.

• If ingested, it causes hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in the cells.

• It is used as a denaturant for other alcohols.

• Also used as an additive for gasoline.

DENATURED ALCOHOL

• Alcohol not intended for human consumption is denatured.

• Denaturation is the process through which alcohol is rendered unfit for human consumption for tax reasons.

• A toxic or extremely undesirable tasting liquid is added to make it impossible for people to drink.

• Ethanol is denatured before it is used for chemical purposes.

ETHANOL

C2 H5OH

• Ethanol is the most common alcohol, found in beverages, paints, adhesives, and nail polish remover.

• Diesel cars can run on 100% ethanol and all cars can run on a combination of gasoline and ethanol.

ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL

C3H8O

• Structural isomer of propyl alcohol.

• Simplest of the secondary alcohols, which have the OH- attached to the second Carbon.

• Known mostly as “rubbing alcohol”.

FERMENTATION/DISTILLATION

• Ethyl alcohol is produced through fermentation of a grain, typically corn.

• Methanol was produced through distillation of wood.

• Methanol is now produced using water and a nickel catalyst according to the equation CH4 + H20 CO+ 3H2.

WORKS CITED

"Alcohol." Chemistry Daily. Wikipedia, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. <http://www.chemistrydaily.com/chemistry/Alcohol>.

Breedlove, C.H. "Denatured Alcohol." Chemmatters 14 Dec. 1990: 14-15. Print.

"Ethyl Alcohol." Chemistry Daily. Wikipedia, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. <http://www.chemistrydaily.com/chemistry/Ethanol>.

Goldsmith, Robert H. "Alcohol." Chemmatters 8 Feb. 1985: 8-11. Print.

Methanol. The Chemical Company. The Chemical Company, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. <http://www.thechemco.com/chemical/methanol/>.