Ethanol: what is it and what is it used for?

Not everyone will be familiar with this term, but probably most people know it. Ethanol is a type of alcohol. We only know alcohol from the stuff that is in certain drinks and gets you drunk. In chemistry, there are several types of alcohols and ethanols, for example ethanol 96. Ethanol therefore has multiple purposes and is used in multiple ways. What can you use ethanol for?

What is it?

As described above, ethanol is a type of alcohol. It can be found in many different products. Ethanol is created by fermentation of sugars, for example. Usually it is a colorless liquid with a strong characteristic odor. Exposure to it can be harmful if done for an extended period of time. If you consume ethanol in smaller concentrations, the risk of harmful effects on your health is small. Usually we take it in a drink. You will notice that the more alcohol you drink, the more you become under its influence. It affects your brain and you may feel light-headed. 

What can you use it for?

Besides consuming, you can use ethanol for many other things. When you ingest ethanol in large amounts, it can be harmful. However, ethanol is put into many more products. A lot of products you use every day contain ethanol. Examples are deodorant, cleaning products and personal care products. In cleaning products, ethanol allows you to degrease well and clean without streaks. In personal care products, it is also used to degrease. Ethanol is also useful for diluting the product, making it spreadable. These days, we use hand gel a lot. That also has ethanol in it. In this case, ethanol is the substance that kills germs and bacteria. In cleaning products, ethanol is not harmful. You are only exposed to ethanol for a short time. You probably don’t use it daily either.

Ethanol as a fuel

In addition to personal care products and cleaning products, ethanol is also used as a fuel. Ethanol is a highly flammable substance and it is used, for example, as a biofuel for cars or as fuel in a fireplace. There are invaluable online resources like What is an Ethanol Fireplace? ~ which is a complete guide for outdoor living essentials such as an Ethanol Fireplace (or BioEthanol) and the various types on the market today and more. It is called bioethanol because it is obtained from sugar beet or sugar cane and grains such as corn and wheat. You don’t have to worry that lighting a bioethanol fireplace is harmful to your health. You are only using it for a short time. It is also formed naturally in your body, so it is always found in your blood. Small amounts, therefore, your body can handle. 
Source: https://sasmabv.com/