ethyl alcohol

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Explanation of "Ethyl Alcohol"

Definition:Ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol, is a clear, colorless liquid that is commonly used as an alcoholic beverage and in various industrial applications. It is the type of alcohol that can make you feel "drunk" if consumed in large amounts.

Usage Instructions:

• In Drinks: Ethyl alcohol is the main ingredient in alcoholic drinks like beer, wine, and spirits (like vodka and whiskey).
• In Industry: It is used as a solvent, which means it can help dissolve other substances. You will find it in products like cleaning solutions, perfumes, and medicines.
• In Fuel: Ethyl alcohol is sometimes added to gasoline to help it burn cleaner and reduce pollution.

Example Sentences:

1. "Many people enjoy cocktails that contain ethyl alcohol, but it’s important to drink responsibly."
2. "Ethyl alcohol is an essential ingredient in hand sanitizers to help kill germs."

Advanced Usage:

• Scientific Context: Ethyl alcohol is used in laboratories for various experiments and is an important chemical in the production of other chemicals.
• In Medicine: It can be found in some antiseptics and medicines, especially those that need to be preserved.

Word Variants:

• Ethanol: This is another name for ethyl alcohol and is often used in scientific contexts.
• Alcoholic: This adjective describes anything that contains ethyl alcohol.

Different Meanings:

• In a casual context, "alcohol" can refer to any drink that makes you feel intoxicated, while "ethyl alcohol" specifically refers to the chemical compound itself.

Synonyms:

• Ethanol
• Drinking alcohol
• Spirits (when referring to distilled alcoholic beverages)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "On the wagon": This idiom means someone has chosen not to drink alcohol, particularly after a period of drinking.
• "Off the wagon": This means someone has started drinking alcohol again after a time of abstaining.

Summary:

Ethyl alcohol is an important compound used in drinks, industry, and even fuel. It's essential to understand its uses and effects, especially if you encounter it in different contexts, such as in beverages or industrial products.

Academic

Noun

1. nonflavored alcohol of 95 percent or 190 proof used for blending with straight whiskies and in making gin and liqueurs
2. the intoxicating agent in fermented and distilled liquors; used pure or denatured as a solvent or in medicines and colognes and cleaning solutions and rocket fuel; proposed as a renewable clean-burning additive to gasoline

Synonyms

• neutral spirits
• ethanol
• fermentation alcohol
• grain alcohol