Contents
Key Stage 3
Meaning
Alcohol is a legal drug sold as a drink.
About Alcohol
Health Effects
- Alcohol has intoxicating effects on humans, causing them to behave in ways they wouldn't normally when sober.
- Alcohol is toxic in large quantities and over long periods of time.
- Alcohol poisoning can cause a person to die if too much alcohol is consumed in a short period of time. However, usually people do not die directly from the alcohol but because they drown in their own vomit or become involved in an accident.
- Prolonged alcohol abuse can lead to liver and kidney damage and even failure. This may require a liver transplant or a kidney transplant.
Properties
- Ethanol is a transparent liquid (at room temperature).
- Ethanol can be oxidised to produce Carbon Dioxide and Water.
- Ethanol + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Ethanol is a type of alcohol molecule with chemical formula C2H5OH.
Ethanol is also referred to commonly as alcohol, though it is only one type of alcohol.
Alcohol/Ethanol and Disease
About Ethanol
- Ethanol is a transparent liquid (STP).
| Chemical Formula (CnH2n+2) | Structural Formula | Structural Diagram | Ball and Stick Model |
| C2H5OH | CH3CH2OH |  |
 |
- The combustion of ethanol produces Carbon Dioxide and Water.
- Ethanol + Oxygen → Carbon Dioxide + Water
\(C_2H_5OH + 3O_2 → 2CO_2 + 3H_2O\)
- Ethanol can also be oxidised at low temperatures to produce Water and the Carboxylic Acid; Ethanoic Acid.
\(C_2H_5OH + O_2 → CHCOOH + H_2O\)
References
AQA
- Ethanol, page 38-9, GCSE Biology; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Ethanol, pages 159, 160, 162, GCSE Chemistry; Third Edition, Oxford University Press, AQA
- Ethanol, pages 238, 240, GCSE Chemistry, CGP, AQA
- Ethanol, pages 242, 254, GCSE Chemistry; Student Book, Collins, AQA
- Ethanol, production by fermentation, pages 109-10, GCSE Combined Science Trilogy 1, Hodder, AQA
- Ethanol; production of, page 181, GCSE Chemistry, Hodder, AQA