Ethanol Formula
C2H5OH is the chemical formula for ethanol, as this compound has two carbon atoms, six hydrogen atoms, and one hydroxyl group.
Physical properties
Appearance: Ethanol is an appearance of a colorless liquid, transparent.
Odor: It is characterized by a characteristic sweet odor.
Boiling point: The ethanol boiling point is about 78.37°C
Melting point: Ethanol has a melting point of about -114.1°C
Density: The density of ethanol at 20°C 68°F is approximately 0.789 g/cm³.
Solubility: Ethanol is highly water-soluble, yielding, in every respect, a completely miscible solution. Also, it is soluble in many organic solvents.
Specific Heat: The specific heat of ethanol is about 2.44 J/g·K.
Refractive Index: Ethanol has a refractive index of about 1.361.
Flammability: Ethanol is highly flammable. It has a flash point of approximately 16°C (60.8°F), which is pretty low; thus, it easily catches fire.
Viscosity: Compared to many other liquids, ethanol has a relatively low viscosity at about 1.2 mPa·s at 20°C.
Chemical properties
Acid-Base Reactions:
Acidity: Ethanol is a very weak acid because it can donate only one proton of the hydroxyl group(−OH) to an ethoxide ion (C2H5O-) and a hydronium ion (H3O+) in water solutions. This reaction is insignificant under most conditions.
Basicity: Ethanol acts as a very weak base in the presence of strong acids; that is, it combines with acids to form ethyl esters.
Oxidation: Ethanol is oxidized to Acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) and further to Acetic acid(CH3COOH) in the presence of oxidizing agents like Potassium permanganate (KMnO₄) or chromium trioxide.
C2H5OH→CH3CHO→CH3COOH
Dehydration: Ethanol is dehydrated to give Ethene and water, the catalyst is usually an acid, such as Sulfuric acid.
C2H5OH→C2H4+H2O
Esterification: Ethanol reacts with Carboxylic acids to form esters in the presence of an acid catalyst. For example, Ethanol and Acetic acid react to give ethyl acetate and water
C2H5OH+CH3COOH→CH3COOCH2H5+H2O
Combustion: Ethanol burns in oxygen to form carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). The reaction is exothermic. The balanced equation for this reaction is
C2H5OH+3O2→2CO2+3H2O
Formation of Alkyl Halides: Ethanol reacts with hydrogen halides, e.g., hydrochloric acid to form ethyl halides. For instance, with hydrochloric acid, ethanol gives ethyl chloride and water
C2H5OH+HCl→C2H5Cl+H2O
Reaction with Sodium: Ethanol reacts with sodium metal to form sodium ethoxide and hydrogen gas
2C2H5OH+2Na→2C2H5ONa+H2
Application
Alcoholic beverages: Ethanol is utilized as the basic ingredient in the manufacturing of various types of alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine, and spirits. Fermentation of sugars by yeast leads to the production of Ethanol.
Fuel: Ethanol is utilized as a renewable fuel. It is usually added to the gasoline to limit emissions and improve the characteristics of the engine. Ethanol fuels, for example, E85, which is a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% of gasoline, are used in flex-fuel vehicles.
Solvent: Ethanol is an important organic solvent used in industry and the laboratory. Ethanol is an exceptionally good solvent of a wide range of co-solutes. It is utilized, among other things, in the production of a variety of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and cleaning agents.
Antiseptic and Disinfectant: Ethanol is employed as an antiseptic and disinfectant. Most of the microorganisms fall in its broad spectrum, and thus it is generally used in hand sanitizers, surface disinfectants, and medical wipes.
Pharmaceuticals: Ethanol is used in preparing tinctures, elixirs, and other pharmaceutical preparations it is used as a solvent for numerous medicines' preservative action, and as a base in tincture and elixir formulae.
Industrial Uses: Ethanol is industrially used to manufacture ethyl esters, acetic acid, and other chemical derivatives. It is also used as a carrier in the formulation of perfumes and flavorings.
Cleaning Agents: Ethanol is used both industrially and domestically in household and industrial cleaners; this is partly due to its effectiveness at dissolving grease to tackle stains. It is found in glass cleaners and degreasers.
Extractant: Ethanol is utilized as an extractant in many food and beverage processes to extract flavors, colors, and essential oils from natural sources.
Preservation: Ethanol is used in the preservation of biological specimens and during the embalming process. It stops microbial growth and decaying.
Chemical Synthesis: Besides, ethanol is used as a starting material in a great deal of chemical syntheses, such as ethylene, ethyl acetate, and ethylamine. It undergoes esterification and other chemical reactions as well.
Cosmetics: Ethanol works as an active solvent and astringent ingredient in cosmetics and personal care products. It contributes to the solution and mixing of different ingredients and has a refreshing effect on the skin.
Conclusion
These chemical and physical properties of Ethanol contribute to its wide range of uses in industry, pharmaceuticals, and everyday products, as we can say it makes ethanol very important, both in daily life and in many industrial processes.