Ethyl alcohol, also known as ethyl alcohol or ethanol, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C2H5OH. Its pure form is a colorless, liquid substance and is often found in alcoholic beverages and in many different industrial uses.
Ethyl alcohol can be obtained by fermentation or synthesis. Fermentation is a biological process in which ethyl alcohol is formed as a result of microorganisms fermenting carbohydrates (usually sugar or starch). Synthesis, on the other hand, is a chemical process used in the petrochemical industry and involves the production of ethyl alcohol from petroleum derivatives.
Ethyl alcohol is the main active ingredient in alcoholic beverages and can be obtained from different fermented products used in making liquors, especially grains or fruits such as malt and grapes. It is also used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, perfumes, cleaning products, fuels, solvents and medicine.
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