Ethanol and spectroscopy

• What are the three types of alcohol mentioned?

  Methanol, ethanol, and propanol
• What is the general formula for alcohols?

  CnH2n+1OH
• What functional group do alcohols contain?

  –OH
• How do the names of alcohols typically end?

  With 'ol'
• Why are alcohols considered highly flammable?

  They can ignite and burn easily
• In what products are alcohols commonly used as solvents?

  Marker pens, medicines, and cosmetics
• What is ethanol commonly found in?

  Alcoholic drinks like wine and beer
• How is ethanol used as a fuel?

  It is mixed with petrol
• What defines a homologous series in organic chemistry?

  • A family of organic compounds
  • Same functional group
  • Similar chemical properties
• What are the uses of alcohols in everyday products?

  • Fuels for combustion
  • Solvents in various applications
  • Ingredients in alcoholic beverages
• What are the three types of alcohol mentioned?

  Ethanol, methanol, and propanol
• What are the uses of ethanol?

  Fuel, solvents, and in alcoholic drinks
• What is the structure of ethanol?

  • Contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms
  • Chemical formula: C₂H₅OH
• How is ethanol produced?

  Through the process of fermentation
• What happens during fermentation?

  Glucose is converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide
• What temperature is fermentation typically conducted at?

  Around 30°C
• What role do enzymes play in fermentation?

  They catalyze the conversion of glucose
• What is the chemical equation for fermentation?

  C6H12O6→enzymes in yeast→2C2H5OH + 2CO2
• Why is sugar from plant material considered a renewable resource?

  It can be replenished through agriculture
• What percentage of the world's ethanol is made using fermentation?

  90 percent
• What are the health impacts of alcohol consumption?

  • Causes around 10% of diseases and deaths in the UK
  • Linked to cancers, high blood pressure, cirrhosis, and depression
  • Approximately 9,000 deaths annually in the UK
• What is the rank of alcohol as a lifestyle factor for health risks?

  Third most dangerous after smoking and obesity
• What are the economic impacts of alcohol misuse in the UK?

  • Costs over £21 billion per year
  • Includes healthcare, police costs, and lost productivity
  • Alcohol exports contribute over £6 billion annually
• How many people does the drinks industry employ directly in the UK?

  Around 650,000 people
• How much tax do alcoholic drink sales generate for the UK Treasury annually?

  Around £10 billion
• What are the social impacts of alcohol consumption?

  • 20% of violence reports occur near pubs/clubs
  • Annual cost of alcohol-related crimes: £8bn to £13bn
• What are the other uses of ethanol besides alcoholic drinks?

  • Excellent solvent
  • Active ingredient in antibacterial hand cleansers
  • Used as a fuel
• What are the three types of alcohol mentioned?

  Ethanol, methanol, and propanol
• What is ethanol used for besides being a fuel?

  It is used as a solvent and in drinks
• What are biofuels and why are they considered an alternative to fossil fuels?

  • Biofuels are produced from natural products, often plant biomass.
  • They are renewable and theoretically carbon neutral.
  • They help reduce reliance on non-renewable fossil fuels.
• What is biomass?

  The dry mass of an organism
• Why are biofuels considered carbon neutral?

  They theoretically balance carbon dioxide emissions
• What microorganisms are used to produce biofuels?

  Microorganisms like yeast
• What process do yeast undergo to produce ethanol?

  Fermentation of sugar in anaerobic conditions
• What is the maximum ethanol concentration yeast can produce before it becomes toxic?

  15 percent
• What is the purpose of distillation in ethanol production?

  To increase ethanol concentration for fuel
• What are the disadvantages of using bioethanol as a fuel?

  • Greater demand on rainforest land.
  • Slow crop growth in low light and temperature areas.
  • Engine modifications needed for higher ethanol concentrations.
  • Carbon emissions from crop production and transport.
  • Moral objections to using food crops for fuel.
• What is formed when ethanol is oxidized by microbes?

  Ethanoic acid (CH3COOH)
• What is the chemical test for alcohols using potassium dichromate(VI)?

  The mixture changes from orange to green
• What was the original use of the alcohol test with potassium dichromate(VI)?

  To test for alcohol on breath for drink-driving