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Ethanol burns with a blue flame, forming carbon dioxide and water. It reacts with active metals to form the metal ethoxide and hydrogen. For example, with sodium it forms sodium ethoxide.
Ethanol is the alcohol in wines, beer and liquors. It is possible to prepare it by fermentation of sugar, which requires an enzyme catalyst present in yeast. It can also be prepared by the fermentation of starch, which requires in addition to the yeast enzyme an enzyme present in the extraction of malt.
For non-beverage uses, ethanol is prepared by passing ethylene gas at high pressure into concentrated sulfuric or phosphoric acid to form the corresponding ester. The acid-ester mixture is diluted with water and heated, forming ethanol by hydrolysis. The alcohol is then removed from the mixture by distillation
Ethanol is extensively used as a solvent in the manufacture of perfumes and varnishes; in the preparation of essences and flavorings; in many drugs and medicines; as a disinfectant and as a fuel and gasoline additive. Many US automobiles manufactured since 1998 are able to run on either gasoline or E85, a mixture of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline.
Alcohol is ethanol to which poisonous substances have been added to prevent being used as a beverage. A beverage tax is not charged, so the cost is low. Ethanol is a soporific that is, it is sleep producing. Death occurs if the concentration of ethanol in the bloodstream exceeds 5 percent. Behavioral changes occur at lower concentrations.
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