Vic: Ethanol factbox

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2000
Vic: Ethanol factbox

MELBOURNE, Dec 1 AAP - Ethanol or ethyl alcohol factbox:



* Characteristics:

- is a colourless liquid with characteristic odour and taste commonly called grain
alcohol or simply alcohol.



* Uses:

- extensively as a solvent in the manufacture of varnishes and perfumes;

- as a preservative for biological specimens;

- in the preparation of essences and flavourings;

- in many medicines and drugs;

- as a disinfectant and in tinctures, for example tincture of iodine;

- and as a fuel and gasoline additive.



* Preparation:

- can be prepared by the fermentation of sugar, from molasses, which requires an enzyme
catalyst that is present in yeast.

- or can be prepared by the fermentation of starch, from corn, rice, rye, or potatoes,
which requires, in addition to the yeast enzyme, an enzyme present in an extract of malt.



* Properties:

- is a monohydric primary alcohol;

- melts at -117.3 degrees Celsius and boils at 78.5 C;

- is miscible, that is mixes without separation with water in all proportions and is
separated from water only with difficulty.



AAP st/jlw/mk

KEYWORD: ETHANOL FACTBOX

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