ethanol

Also known as EtOH, C2H5OH, hydroxyethane, 1-hydroxyethane, E1510, ethyl alcohol, anhydrol, ethyl alcohol anhydrous

Ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol, grain alcohol, drinking alcohol, or simply alcohol) is an organic compound with the chemical formula . It is an alcohol, with its formula also written as , or EtOH, where Et is the pseudoelement symbol for ethyl. Ethanol is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid with a pungent taste. As a psychoactive depressant, it is the active ingredient in alcoholic beverages, and the second most consumed drug globally behind caffeine.

AI overview

Ethanol is a colorless, flammable liquid that is the active ingredient in alcoholic drinks and the second most consumed drug worldwide after caffeine. It is a psychoactive depressant that affects the brain and body, and has a sharp taste and pungent smell.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Chemical data

Formula: C2H6O
Molecular weight: 46.07 g/mol
IUPAC name: ethanol
SMILES: CCO
InChIKey: LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
XLogP: -0.1
Polar surface area: 20.2 Å²
H-bond donors: 1
H-bond acceptors: 1
Formal charge: 0

via PubChem

Research

228,442 papers

Ethanol and its metabolites: update on toxicity, benefits, and focus on immunomodulatory effects.ReviewDrug metabolism reviews · 2019Le Daré B, Lagente V, Gicquel TDOI: 10.1080/03602532.2019.1679169
Ethanol's impact on the brain: a neurobiological perspective on the mechanisms of memory impairment.ReviewMolecular biology reports · 2024Hedayati-Moghadam M, Razazpour F, Pourfridoni M et al.DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09748-3
Ethanol-Induced Depression: Exploring the Underlying Molecular Mechanisms.ReviewCellular and molecular neurobiology · 2025Mashayekhi-Sardoo H, Razazpour F, Hakemi Z et al.DOI: 10.1007/s10571-025-01569-7
The evolutionary ecology of ethanol.ReviewTrends in ecology & evolution · 2025Bowland AC, Melin AD, Hosken DJ et al.DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2024.09.005
Therapeutic Applications of Ethanol: A Review.ReviewJournal of pharmacy & pharmaceutical sciences : a publication of the Canadian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Societe canadienne des sciences pharmaceutiques · 2019Le Daré B, Gicquel TDOI: 10.18433/jpps30572
Ethanol's molecular targets.ReviewScience signaling · 2008Harris RA, Trudell JR, Mihic SJDOI: 10.1126/scisignal.128re7
Alcohol and Cancer: Epidemiology and Biological Mechanisms.ReviewNutrients · 2021Rumgay H, Murphy N, Ferrari P et al.DOI: 10.3390/nu13093173
Ethanol tolerance and synaptic plasticity.ReviewTrends in pharmacological sciences · 1998Chandler LJ, Harris RA, Crews FTDOI: 10.1016/s0165-6147(98)01268-1

via PubMed

Wikidata facts

Mass: 46.042
Image: Sample of Absolute Ethanol.jpg
Autonomy: 363

Show 26 more facts

flash point: 55
chemical formula: C₂H₆O
canonical SMILES: CCO
lower flammable limit: 3.3
upper flammable limit: 19
Commons category: Ethanol
UN class: 3
UN packaging group: II
Commons gallery: Ethanol
NIOSH Pocket Guide ID: 0262
density: 790
speed of sound: 1162
vapor pressure: 44
immediately dangerous to life or health: 6237
melting point: -114.1
boiling point: 78.29
ionization energy: 10.47
time-weighted average exposure limit: 1900
pKa: 16
standard enthalpy of formation: -234.8
standard molar entropy: 281.6
refractive index: 1.3611
NCI Thesaurus ID: C2190
combustion enthalpy: -1367
specific heat capacity: 13.444
electric dipole moment: 1.69

Sources (15)

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Article

33 sections

Contents

Name
Uses
Recreational drug
Medical
Energy source
Other uses
Chemistry
Physical properties
Solvent properties
Azeotrope with water
Flammability
Natural occurrence
Production
Sources
Hydration
Fermentation
Testing
Purification
Grades of ethanol
Reactions
Ester formation
Dehydration
Combustion
Acid-base chemistry
Halogenation
Oxidation
Metabolism
Safety
History
See also
References
Further reading
External links

Ethanol is naturally produced by the fermentation process of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes such as ethylene hydration. Historically it was used as a general anesthetic, and has modern medical applications as an antiseptic, disinfectant, solvent for some medications, and antidote for methanol poisoning and ethylene glycol poisoning. It is used as a chemical solvent and in the synthesis of organic compounds, and as a fuel source for lamps, stoves, and internal combustion engines. Ethanol also can be dehydrated to make ethylene, an important chemical feedstock. As of 2023, world production of ethanol fuel was , coming mostly from the U.S. (51%) and Brazil (26%).