Ethanol

C₂H₆O

Ethanol is a primary alcohol — an -OH group bonded to a carbon that has only one other carbon neighbor. It's the alcohol in alcoholic beverages and one of Brazil's main biofuels.

Properties

PropertyValue
Molar mass46.07 g/mol
Physical state (25°C)Liquid
PolarityPolar
Hydrogen bondingYes (via -OH)

Uses and occurrence

Produced by fermenting sugars (sugarcane, corn), it's used as fuel (ethanol/gasoline blends), solvent, antiseptic, and in beverage production.

See ethanol in the simulator →