Difference between revisions of "Alcohol"
Stevendavy (Talk | contribs) (Ethanol, and further alcohols to be reviewed.) |
Stevendavy (Talk | contribs) (Added a bit to ethanol) |
||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
==Methanol== | ==Methanol== | ||
| − | Methanol consists of a single carbon atom, with three hydrogen atoms and a -OH. Traditionally, methanol was produced by the fermentation of wood, leading to the term 'wood alcohol'. Industrially, methanol can be produced by the reaction of [[carbon monoxide]] and [[hydrogen]] (CO + 2 H<sub>2</sub> = CHO<sub>3</sub>OH). The primary use of methanol is its addition to ethanol to make it undrinkable. | + | Methanol consists of a single carbon atom, with three hydrogen atoms and a -OH. Traditionally, methanol was produced by the fermentation of wood, leading to the term 'wood alcohol'. Industrially, methanol can be produced by the reaction of [[carbon monoxide]] and [[hydrogen]] (CO + 2 H<sub>2</sub> = CHO<sub>3</sub>OH). For this industrial process, copper, zinc oxide and aluminum oxide may be used as catalysts at 250°C and a pressure of 50-100 atm. |
| + | |||
| + | The primary use of methanol is its addition to ethanol to make it undrinkable. It has also been used as a [[biofuel]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Methanol is highly toxic to humans. This toxicity is largely indirect, as alcohol dehydrogense metabolises methanol to form [[formaldehyde]], which causes blindness and death. Small amounts of methanol may be present in alcohol drinks are can cause a burning sensation of the eyes. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==Ethanol== | ||
| + | |||
| + | Ethanol (C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH) is a major industrial spirit widely used in laboratories and household applications. Most significantly though, it is the major alcohol in alcoholic drinks. | ||
Revision as of 20:39, August 10, 2007
For Alcoholic drinks please see the specific article.
Alcohols are a group of organic compounds consisting of a hydrocarbon or group with an -OH group; CnH2+1OH.
Commonly, the word alcohol refers to ethanol (C2H5OH), which is the predominant alcohol found in alcoholic drinks. Ethanol is produced by yeast during the anerobic metabolism, comparable to the production of lactic acid in mammals.
Methanol
Methanol consists of a single carbon atom, with three hydrogen atoms and a -OH. Traditionally, methanol was produced by the fermentation of wood, leading to the term 'wood alcohol'. Industrially, methanol can be produced by the reaction of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (CO + 2 H2 = CHO3OH). For this industrial process, copper, zinc oxide and aluminum oxide may be used as catalysts at 250°C and a pressure of 50-100 atm.
The primary use of methanol is its addition to ethanol to make it undrinkable. It has also been used as a biofuel.
Methanol is highly toxic to humans. This toxicity is largely indirect, as alcohol dehydrogense metabolises methanol to form formaldehyde, which causes blindness and death. Small amounts of methanol may be present in alcohol drinks are can cause a burning sensation of the eyes.
Ethanol
Ethanol (C2H5OH) is a major industrial spirit widely used in laboratories and household applications. Most significantly though, it is the major alcohol in alcoholic drinks.
