Where is ethyl alcohol found

Ethanol is a common ingredient in many cosmetics and beauty products. It acts as an astringent to help clean skin, as a preservative in lotions and to help ensure that lotion ingredients do not separate, and it helps hairspray adhere to hair.

Because ethanol is effective in killing microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and viruses, it is a common ingredient in many hand sanitizers.

The U. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends the use of hand sanitizers in situations where soap and water are not available. Ethanol mixes easily with water and many organic compounds, and makes an effective solvent for use in paints, lacquers and varnish, as well as personal care and household cleaning products.

As an additive to cleaning products, ethanol is also used as a preservative because it is effective in knocking out organisms that could pose a danger to consumers.

As a food additive, ethanol can help evenly distribute food coloring, as well as enhance the flavor of food extracts. For example, vanilla extract, a common food flavoring, is made by curing and processing vanilla beans in a solution of ethanol and water. More than 97 percent of U.

Ethanol has a higher octane number than gasoline, providing premium blending properties, according to the U. Department of Energy. Minimum octane number requirements prevent engine knocking and maintain drivability. Ethanol is highly flammable and should not be used near open flames. Ethanol inhalation can cause coughing or headaches, according to the CDC. The molecular formula of ethanol is C2H6O, indicating that ethanol contains two carbons and an oxygen.

However, the structural formula of ethanol, C2H5OH, provides a little more detail, and indicates that there is an hydroxyl group -OH at the end of the 2-carbon chain Figure 1. The -OH group is characteristic of all alcohols. Figure 1. On the left is the atomic stick representation of the structural formula and on the right is the ball and stick model.

Ethanol is an interesting molecule. It is polar or hydrophilic water-loving due to the presence of the terminal hydroxyl group, so it dissolves in water. Yet because of the 2 carbon chain, it has a bit of non-polar character.

There is no separation of electrical charges between the carbon atoms, thereby minimizing intermolecular interactions in aqueous solutions. Generally, carbon chains saturated with hydrogens give a molecule hydrophobic water-fearing character, making it less soluble in water. However, in the case of ethanol, the carbon chain is short enough so that the more polar -OH group dominates, giving the ethanol its polar character.

In alcohols with relatively long carbon chains 4 or more , the polar effects of the -OH group are not sufficient to overcome the hydrophobic nature of the carbon chain, resulting in alcohols that are progressively less water-soluble. The solubility characteristics of ethanol become important in terms of its ability to move across biological membranes and around the body. In fact, it distributes in any area within the body in which water is found.

However, the 2-carbon chain in ethanol makes it slightly lipophilic lipid-loving so it can also penetrate the lipid bilayers of biological membranes. From cleaning your blinds to getting out pesky permanent marker…. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can help keep you safe and reduce the spread of germs if soap and water aren't available.

It's also effective against…. Find out what exams and screenings are recommended for men at every stage of life, as well as tips on what to ask your doctor. Subscription boxes are the gift that keeps on giving. Here are a few of our top picks. Viome specializes in gut health testing kits — but do they actually work? Find out everything you need to know and more. Denatured alcohol is ethyl alcohol with substances added to make it unfit for human consumption.

Here's how it's different from I isopropyl alcohol. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Differences in composition In hand sanitizer As disinfectants Other differences Solutions vs.

Is ethyl alcohol the same as isopropyl alcohol? Ethyl vs. Other differences between ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol. Why does alcohol work as an antiseptic and disinfectant? Read this next. Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph.