Ethanol: Difference between revisions
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'''Ethanol''', also called '''ethyl alcohol''', '''pure alcohol''', '''grain alcohol''', or '''drinking alcohol''', is a [[Volatility (chemistry)|volatile]], [[flammable]], colorless liquid. It is a [[psychoactive drug]], best known as the type of [[alcohol]] found in [[alcoholic beverage]]s. While it was a common primary fuel in early liquid-fuel [[rocket motor]]s, it is widely used as a fuel additive, and is extensively used as a solvent. | |||
Ethanol is a straight-chain [[alcohol]], and its [[chemical formula]] is C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>5</sub>OH (or CH<sub>3</sub>-CH<sub>2</sub>-OH). It has a [[molecular mass]] of 46.07 and a [[Boiling point|normal boiling point]] of 78.32 [[Celsius|°C]]. | |||
==Health effects== | ==Health effects== | ||
===Harmful=== | ===Harmful=== | ||
Heavy drinking can lead to [[alcohol withdrawal]] when drinking is stopped. | |||
Heavy drinking can lead to [[alcoholic hepatitis]] and may also cause [[alcohol withdrawal]] when drinking is stopped. | |||
Drinking can impair performance while intociated<ref name="pmid12140623">{{cite journal |author=Dorafshar AH, O'Boyle DJ, McCloy RF |title=Effects of a moderate dose of alcohol on simulated laparoscopic surgical performance |journal=Surg Endosc |volume=16 |issue=12 |pages=1753–8 |year=2002 |month=December |pmid=12140623 |doi=10.1007/s00464-001-9052-3 |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00464-001-9052-3 |issn=}}</ref> and possibly after intoxication<ref name="pmid16626342">{{cite journal |author=Kocher H, Warwick J, Al-Ghnaniem R, Patel A |title=Surgical dexterity after a 'night out on the town' |journal=ANZ J Surg |volume=76 |issue=3 |pages=110–2 |year=2006 |month=March |pmid=16626342 |doi=10.1111/j.1445-2197.2006.03664.x |url=http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/resolve/openurl?genre=article&sid=nlm:pubmed&issn=1445-1433&date=2006&volume=76&issue=3&spage=110 |issn=}}</ref>. | |||
===Beneficial=== | ===Beneficial=== | ||
Moderate drinking is associated with reduced cardiac morbidity. Starting moderate drinking during middle age is also associated with cardiovascular benefits and reduced total mortality.<ref name="pmid17159008">{{cite journal |author=Augusto Di Castelnuovo, Simona Costanzo, Vincenzo Bagnardi, Maria B. Donati, Licia Iacoviello L and Gionanni de Gaetano|title=Alcohol dosing and total mortality in men and women: an updated meta-analysis of 34 prospective studies |journal=Arch. Intern. Med. |volume=166 |issue=22 |pages=2437–45 |year=2006 |pmid=17159008 |doi=10.1001/archinte.166.22.2437 |url=http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=17159008 |issn=}}</ref>.<ref name="pmid18328303">{{cite journal |author=D.E. King DE, A.G. Mainous and M.E. Geesey |title=Adopting moderate alcohol consumption in middle age: subsequent cardiovascular events |journal=Am. J. Med. |volume=121 |issue=3 |pages=201–6 |year=2008 |month=March |pmid=18328303 |doi=10.1016/j.amjmed.2007.12.004 |url=http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0002-9343(07)01192-8 |issn=}}</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Latest revision as of 20:03, 20 September 2010
Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a psychoactive drug, best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. While it was a common primary fuel in early liquid-fuel rocket motors, it is widely used as a fuel additive, and is extensively used as a solvent.
Ethanol is a straight-chain alcohol, and its chemical formula is C2H5OH (or CH3-CH2-OH). It has a molecular mass of 46.07 and a normal boiling point of 78.32 °C.
Health effects
Harmful
Heavy drinking can lead to alcoholic hepatitis and may also cause alcohol withdrawal when drinking is stopped.
Drinking can impair performance while intociated[1] and possibly after intoxication[2].
Beneficial
Moderate drinking is associated with reduced cardiac morbidity. Starting moderate drinking during middle age is also associated with cardiovascular benefits and reduced total mortality.[3].[4]
References
- ↑ Dorafshar AH, O'Boyle DJ, McCloy RF (December 2002). "Effects of a moderate dose of alcohol on simulated laparoscopic surgical performance". Surg Endosc 16 (12): 1753–8. DOI:10.1007/s00464-001-9052-3. PMID 12140623. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Kocher H, Warwick J, Al-Ghnaniem R, Patel A (March 2006). "Surgical dexterity after a 'night out on the town'". ANZ J Surg 76 (3): 110–2. DOI:10.1111/j.1445-2197.2006.03664.x. PMID 16626342. Research Blogging.
- ↑ Augusto Di Castelnuovo, Simona Costanzo, Vincenzo Bagnardi, Maria B. Donati, Licia Iacoviello L and Gionanni de Gaetano (2006). "Alcohol dosing and total mortality in men and women: an updated meta-analysis of 34 prospective studies". Arch. Intern. Med. 166 (22): 2437–45. DOI:10.1001/archinte.166.22.2437. PMID 17159008. Research Blogging.
- ↑ D.E. King DE, A.G. Mainous and M.E. Geesey (March 2008). "Adopting moderate alcohol consumption in middle age: subsequent cardiovascular events". Am. J. Med. 121 (3): 201–6. DOI:10.1016/j.amjmed.2007.12.004. PMID 18328303. Research Blogging.