MOLECULES: Ethanol, ethyl alcohol, C₂H₅OH

Ethanol molecule (C₂H₅OH) also known as simply "alcohol" or ethyl alcohol. This image is 500 x 500 pixels; the original measures 4,096 x 4,096 pixels.

• red = oxygen (O)
• black = carbon (C)
• green = hydrogen (H)

ETHANOL is the second of the alcohols and contains only two carbon atoms (methanol is the first, with one carbon atom). Ethanol (or ethyl alcohol) is commonly used as an intoxicant:

ALCOHOL IN DRINK: The alcohol in alcoholic beverages is ethanol. Beer, wine and spirits all contain ethanol that has been produced using fermentation. In spirits, the alcohol is further concentrated by distillation.

ALCOHOLISM: damaging addiction to alcohol (ethanol).

INDUSTRIAL ALCOHOL: ethanol produced in industrial quantities, commonly used as a fuel or fuel additive.