Ethanol

Basic Information

CAS: 64-17-5
Chemical Formula: C₂H₅OH
Molecular Weight: 46.07 (g/mol)
Melting Point: -114.1 °C
Boiling Point: 78.3 °C
Density: 0.7893 g/cm³ 
Appearance: Colorless transparent liquid with aromatic odor
Flash point: 14.0 °C
UN: 1170
Explosive limits: 3.3%–19%
Vapor pressure: 5.333 kPa
Dissociation constant: pKa = 15.9
Viscosity: 1.074 mPa·s
Gas density: 2.009 kg/m³
Critical Temperature: 516.2 K
Critical Pressure: 6.38 MPa
Relative Vapor Density: 1.59
Refractive Index: 1.361
Solubility: Miscible with water; miscible with most organic solvents including diethyl ether, chloroform, glycerol, and methanol. 

Application

Ethanol is a vital organic solvent widely used in pharmaceuticals, coatings, sanitary products, cosmetics, oils, and fats, accounting for approximately 50% of total ethanol consumption.
As a fundamental chemical feedstock, ethanol is used to produce acetaldehyde, ethylene, ethylamine, ethyl acetate, acetic acid, chloroethane, and other compounds. It also serves as a precursor for numerous intermediates in pharmaceuticals, dyes, coatings, fragrances, synthetic rubber, detergents, pesticides, and more, yielding over 300 derivative products.
1. Disinfectants:
Alcohol with a volume fraction exceeding 99.5% is termed anhydrous alcohol. Biological applications: Pigments in chloroplasts dissolve in organic solvents like anhydrous ethanol (or acetone), enabling their extraction using anhydrous ethanol.
95% alcohol is used to wipe ultraviolet lamps. This alcohol is commonly used in hospitals, while in households it is typically reserved for cleaning camera lenses.
2. Beverage Production:
Ethanol is the primary component of alcoholic beverages. Specially refined ethanol can also be used to manufacture other beverages. It is further utilized in producing acetic acid, beverages, baked goods, confectionery, ice cream, sauces, and more.
3. Energy: Similar to methanol, ethanol can serve as an energy source. Some countries have begun using ethanol as a standalone automotive fuel or blending it into gasoline (at over 10% concentration) to conserve petroleum.
4. Organic Solvent:
Ethanol serves as a solvent in adhesives, nitrocellulose lacquers, varnishes, cosmetics, inks, paint removers, and as an analytical reagent in pharmaceutical manufacturing. It also dissolves water-insoluble organic additives in electroplating.
5. Organic Raw Material: Serves as a raw material for manufacturing pesticides, pharmaceuticals, rubber, plastics, synthetic fibers, detergents, antifreeze, fuels, disinfectants, and more. In the microelectronics industry, it functions as a dehydrating and cleaning agent and can be used in conjunction with degreasers