Ethanol Properties

Ethanol
Ethanol, C2H5OH, (also called Ethyl Alcohol) is the second member of the
aliphatic alcohol series. It is a clear colourless liquid with a pleasant smell. Except for
alcoholic beverages, nearly all the ethanol used industrially is a mixture of 95%
ethanol and 5% water, which is known simply as 95% alcohol. Although pure ethyl
alcohol (known as absolute alcohol) is available, it is much more expensive and is
used only when definitely required.
Preparation
Ethanol is prepared as 95% alcohol (i.e. a 95% solution of ethanol in water) by
distillation of the solution which results from the fermentation of sugars.
Manufacture
There are two major industrial pathways to ethanol. Ethanol which is intended for
industrial use is made by the first method, while ethanol intended for food use tends to
be made by the second method.
Reaction of Ethene with Steam
Most of the ethanol used in industry is made, not by alcoholic fermentation, but
by an addition reaction between ethene and steam.
C2H4 + H2O ==> C2H5OH
Ethene Steam Ethanol
Alcoholic Fermentation
 A solution of sucrose, to which yeast is added, is heated. An enzyme,

invertase, which is present in yeast is added and this acts as a catalyst to
convert the sucrose into glucose and fructose.,

 invertase
 C12H22O11 + H2O ==> C6H12O6 + C6H12O6
 Sucrose Glucose
Fructose
 The glucose, C6H12O6, and fructose, C6H12O6, formed are then
converted into ethanol and carbon dioxide by another enzyme, zymase,
which is also present in yeast.

 zymase
 C6H12O6 ==> 2C2H5OH + 2CO2
 Ethanol
The fermentation process takes three days and is carried out at a

temperature between 250C and 300C. The ethanol is then obtained by
fractional distillation.
Absolute Ethanol
Whatever method of preparation is used, the ethanol is initially obtained in
admixture with water. The ethanol is then extracted from this solution by
fractional distillation.
Although the boiling point of ethanol, 78.3 degC, is significantly lower than the
boiling point of water, 100 degC, these material cannot be separated completely
by distillation. Instead, an azeotropic mixture (i.e. a mixture of 95% ethanol
and 5% water) is obtained, and the boiling point of the azeotrope is 78.15oC. In
a distillation, the most volatile material (i.e. the material that has the lowest
boiling point) is the first material to distill from the distillation flask, and this
material is the azeotrope of 95% ethanol which has the lowest boiling point. If
an efficient fractionating column is used, there is obtained first 95% alcohol,
then a small intermediate fraction of lower concentration, and then water. But
no matter how efficient the fractionating column used, 95% alcohol cannot be
further concentrated by distillation.
The separation of a mixture by fractional distillation occurs because the vapour

has a different composition from the liquid from which it distils (i.e. the vapour
is richer in the more volatile component). We cannot separate 95% alcohol into
its components by distillation, because here the vapour has exactly the same
composition as the liquid; towards distillation, then, 95% alcohol behaves
exactly like a pure compound.
A liquid mixture that has the peculiar property of giving a vapour of the same
composition is called an azeotrope (i.e. a constant-boiling mixture). Since it
contains two components 95% alcohol is a binary azeotrope. Most azeotropes,
like 95% alcohol, have boiling points lower than those of their components, and
are known as minimum-boiling mixtures. Azeotropes having boiling points
higher than those of their components are known as maximum-boiling
mixtures.
Physical Properties
Ethanol is a colourless liquid with a pleasant smell. It is completely miscible
with water and organic solvents and is very hydroscopic.
Melting Point -1150C
Boiling Point 780C
Specific Gravity 0.79.
Chemical Properties of Ethanol

Combustion of Ethanol
Ethanol burns with a pale blue, non luminous flame to form carbon dioxide and
steam.
C2H5OH + 3O2 ==> 2CO2 + 3H2O
Ethanol
Oxidation of Ethanol
Ethanol is oxidised
 with acidified Potassium Dichromate, K2Cr2O7, or

 with acidified Sodium Dichromate, Na2Cr2O7, or
 with acidified potassium permanganate, KMnO4,
to form ethanal, (i.e. acetaldehyde).

[O]
C2H5OH ==> CH3CHO + H2O
Ethanol Ethanal
The ethanal is further oxidised to ethanoic acid (i.e. acetic acid) if the oxidising
agent is in excess.
[O]
CH3CHO ==> CH3COOH
Ethanal Ethanoic Acid
The oxidising agent usually used for this reaction is a mixture of sodium
dichromate or potassium dichromate and sulphuric acid which react together to
provide oxygen atoms as follows.
Na2Cr2O7 + 4 H2SO4 ==> Na2SO4 + Cr2(SO4)3 + 4H2O

+ 3[O]
Dehydration of Ethanol
When ethanol is mixed with concentrated sulphuric acid with the acid in excess
and heated to 170 degC, ethylene is formed. (One mole of ethanol loses one
mole of water)
H2SO4
C2H5OH ==> C2H4 + H2O
170 degC
When ethanol is mixed with concentrated sulphuric acid with the alcohol in
excess and heated to 140 degC, diethyl ether distils over (two moles of ethanol
loses one mole of water) .
H2SO4
2 C2H5OH ==> C2H5OC2H5 + H2O
140 deg
Reaction of Ethanol with Sodium
Sodium reacts with ethanol at room temp to liberate hydrogen. The hydrogen
atom of the hydroxyl group is replaced by a sodium atom, forming sodium
ethoxide.
C2H5OH + Na ==> C2H5ONa + (H2(
Apart from this reaction, ethanol and the other alcohols show no acidic
properties.
Dehydrogenation of Ethanol
Ethanol can also be oxidised to ethanal (i.e. acetaldehyde) by passing its vapour
over copper heated to 300 degC. Two atoms of hydrogen are eliminated from
each molecule to form hydrogen gas and hence this process is termed
dehydrogenation.
C2H5OH ==> CH3CHO + H2
Ethanol Ethanal
Esterification of Ethanol
Ethanol, C2H5OH, reacts with organic acids to form esters.
H(+)
C2H5OH + CH3COOH ==> CH3COOC2H5 + H2O
Ethanol Ethanoic Ethyl
Water
Acid Acetate
Halogenation or Substitution of Ethanol with PCl5
Ethanol reacts with phosphorus pentachloride at room temperature to form
hydrogen chloride, ethyl chloride (i.e. chloroethane) and phosphoryl chloride.
C2H5OH + PCl5 ==> C2H5Cl + POCl3 + HCl
Ethanol Phosphorus Ethyl Phosphorus
Hydrogen
Pentachloride Chloride Pentachloride
Chloride
Halogenation or Substitution of Ethanol with HCl
Ethanol reacts with hydrogen chloride to form ethyl chloride (i.e. chloroethane)
and water. A dehydrating agent (e.g. zinc chloride) is used as a catalyst.
ZnCl2
C2H5OH + HCl ==> C2H5Cl + H2O
Ethanol Ethyl
Chloride
Uses of Ethanol
Ethanol is used
 in the manufacture of alcoholic drinks, e.g. Vodka, etc.,

 as a widely used solvent for paint, varnish and drugs,
 in the manufacture of ethanal, (i.e. acetaldehyde), and ethanoic acid, (i.e.
acetic acid),
 as a fuel (e.g. in Gasahol),
 as the fluid in thermometers, and
 in preserving biological specimens.

Ethanol Properties

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Ethanol Properties

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Ethanol

 A solution of sucrose, to which yeast is added, is heated. An enzyme,

The fermentation process takes three days and is carried out at a

The separation of a mixture by fractional distillation occurs because the vapour

Chemical Properties of Ethanol

 with acidified Potassium Dichromate, K2Cr2O7, or

to form ethanal, (i.e. acetaldehyde).

Na2Cr2O7 + 4 H2SO4 ==> Na2SO4 + Cr2(SO4)3 + 4H2O

 in the manufacture of alcoholic drinks, e.g. Vodka, etc.,

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