Production of Materials > 3. Renewable Ethanol >
Outline the use of ethanol as a fuel and explain why it can be called a renewable resource
- Ethanol is a very polar molecule due to its hydroxyl (OH) group, with the high electronegativity of oxygen allowing hydrogen bonding to take place with other molecules.
- Ethanol therefore attracts polar and ionic molecules.
- The ethyl (C2H5) group in ethanol is non-polar.
- Ethanol therefore attracts non-polar molecules.
- Thus, ethanol can dissolve both polar and non-polar substances.
- In industrial and consumer products, ethanol is the second most important solvent after water.
- Ethanol is the least toxic of the alcohols (it is only poisonous in large amounts), which makes it more suitable for use in industry and consumer products.
- Ethanol is a common solvent in:
- Cosmetics (such as perfumes).
- Food colourings and flavourings (such as vanilla essence).
- Medicinal preparations (such as antiseptics).
- Some cleaning agents.
- Industry.