Ethanol in Everyday

The chemical compound of ethanol, a versatile grain-based substance, is made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. When ethanol is distilled from water, is emerges in an almost pure form; however water and ethanol can form a bond. Thus, distilling ethanol through other methods, such as with yeast and dehydration to remove all traces of water, will produce a result that is a pure alcohol with a concentrate of 200 proof.

Ethanol is commonly used in a number of different industries such as in gasoline production, perfumes and as a component of alcoholic drinks. Ethanol is also frequently used in the pharmaceutical industry. The addition of ethanol to other substances can produce a number of very different products.

For example, an "ethyl ester" is produced as the result of a chemical reaction between ethanol and certain acid catalysts. There are two main categories of these compound reactions - ethyl acetate and ethyl acrylate. Ethyl acrylate forms a plastic-based compound that is used to make adhesive coatings, such as on Band-aids, among other things. Ethyl acetate is used as a solvent for paints, such as in products like nail polish.

Some other products that contain an ethanol presence are household antiseptics and disinfectants. Depending on the concentration, ethanol can also be used for industrial cleaning purposes. This is because ethanol has been proven to be very effective to killing off harmful organisms such as most bacteria and fungi.

In medications, ethanol is often used to slow the activities of the brain, as it is a natural depressant, or "downer." It can counteract harmful levels of methanol in the system and help the withdrawal symptoms of intoxication. Because ethanol is a good solvent, it can also be used in a variety of medications, such as cough syrup and various tonics or tinctures.

Ethanol can be injected into the body. In heavy doses or over periods of prolonged use, ethanol can cause damage to living tissues, so most physicians will obtain information about the patient before prescribing its use. It is of critical importance never to use more than the recommended dosage of ethanol-based medicines.

Conditions such as liver disease, pregnancy, gout, diabetes and alcohol addiction must always be investigated in the patient before they can be cleared for ethanol use, as ethanol can exacerbate existing issues or cause damage, such as in the case of pregnancy. There is also a risk of harmful drug interactions when ethanol is introduced as part of a medicinal regimen.

Many people are not aware of the serious dangers that can arise when mixing medications that have adverse reactions or of the dangers of mixing certain medications with alcohol or ethanol products. Even some non-prescription medications, such as natural or herbal supplements and vitamins can cause issues when combined with ethanol or alcohol. While there is the risk of a negative reaction, the addition of ethanol may render certain types of medication ineffective, which may be just as harmful to the body.

Because ethanol is a natural depressant, users may experience drowsiness, which is a common side effect; however, when mixed with other medications, the opposite effect can occur. Rapid heart beat, anxiety, seizures, stomach pain and trembling are just a few of the side effects that a patient may experience after introducing ethanol and alcohol-based products to the body.

Sources:

http://www.ethanol.org/

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/may2006/tc20060519_225336.htm