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In simple terms alcohol is the commonplace name of ethanol, an organic compound produced in nature by the anaerobic metabolism of sugars by yeasts (fermentation).

It is also the chemical term for a class of organic compounds whose principal functional group is the hydroxy or -OH radical. Ethanol is a member of this class of compounds and has the formula CH3CH2OH or C2H5OH.

Ethanol is completely miscible in water, as it shares the capacity to hydrogen bond courtesy of the -OH group. Think of water as H-OH and you see the similarity. Ethanol is more volatile than water, boiling at 79 Celsius and can be readily separated from a mixture of water and ethanol by distillation.

Alchohol is, ironically, derived from the Arabic for aqua vitae or water of life. Presumably so named because imbibing modest quantities creates a rather more animated human being than normal. Of course, imbibed to excess, alcohol also creates the opposite condition, namely death. It is a testament to the will power of our ancestors that they didn't name it aqua mortis.

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11y ago

Alcohol is defined as a colorless flammable liquid that is the intoxicating part of many beverages, such as wine, beer, liquor, etc. It is also used as a solvent and even a fuel.

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the definition of alcohol

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Q: What s alcohol?
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