Ethanol as a Solvent

[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Production of Materials‎ > ‎3. Renewable Ethanol‎ > ‎

Outline the use of ethanol as a fuel and explain why it can be called a renewable resource[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” separator_top_type=”none” separator_top_height=”50px” separator_top_angle_point=”50″ separator_bottom_type=”none” separator_bottom_height=”50px” separator_bottom_angle_point=”50″ style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]

  • 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.

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