Ethanol (ethyl alcohol): Overview
Description
Ethanol is present in alcoholic drinks (beer, wine, spirits) when diluted. It is used as a topical agent to prevent skin infections, in pharmaceutical preparations (e.g. rubbing compounds, lotions, tonics, colognes), cosmetics, and in perfumes. Ethanol may be present in fuels, labelled as ethanolblended fuels, and is used as an industrial solvent for fats, oils, waxes, resins, and hydrocarbons. It is used to make many chemical compounds, lacquers, plastics and plasticizers, rubber and rubber accelerators, aerosols, mouthwash products, soaps and cleaning preparations, polishes, surface coatings, dyes, inks, adhesives, preservatives, pesticides, explosives, petrol additives/substitutes, elastomers, antifreeze, yeast growth medium, human and veterinary medicines and as a dehydrating agent.
Substance details
Substance name: Ethanol
CASR number: 64-17-5
Molecular formula: C2H6O
Synonyms: ethyl alcohol
Physical properties
Ethanol is a clear, colourless liquid with a characteristic pleasant odour and burning taste. It is highly flammable. Ethanol is used to dissolve other chemical substances and mixes readily with water and many organic liquids. Ethanol is considered a volatile organic compound by the National Pollutant Inventory.
Melting Point: -114°C
Boiling Point: 78.5°C
Specific gravity: 0.8
Flash point: 9-11°C
Chemical properties
Ethanol rapidly absorbs water from the air. It mixes readily with most organic liquids.
Further information
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) holds data for all sources of ethanol emissions in Australia.
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