alcohols as fuels

• alcohols are another homologous series of organic compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms
• general formula CnH2n + 1OH
• first five alcohols, methanol, ethanol, propan, butan, pentan
• alcohols such as these with small carbon atoms make good fuels, burn more cleanly than liquid hydrocarbon fuels such as petrol
• methanol and ethanol can also be obtained from renewable energy sources
• using renewable energy sources helps to conserve fossil fuels such as crude oil, natural gas, which are in danger of running out
• ethanol can be produced through fermentation and used as a fuel for cars, on own or mixed with petrol to make gasohol