Ethanol
General Product Information
| Article | Ethanol |
| Synonyms | Alcohol, Ethyl alcohol |
| CAS No. | 64-17-5 |
| EEG No. | 603-002-00-5 |
| EINECS No. | 200-578-6 |
| IMO | Class 3 |
| Tariff Code | 22071000 |
| UN No. | 1170 |
| VLG/ADR | Class 3, Packing Group II |
Description
Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is a colorless, volatile, and flammable liquid with a characteristic odor. It is a widely used chemical in industry. Ethanol occurs both synthetically and biologically (biobased) and is one of the most important industrial alcohols.
Characteristics
- Odor: Mild, stimulating, and slightly sweet, with a typical alcohol aroma.
- Hygroscopic: Yes.
- Solubility: Mixable with water and many organic solvents.
- Highly flammable.
- Renewable production possible through biomass fermentation.
- Grade: Technical.
- Color: Colorless
- Shape: Liquid.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Chemical Structure | C2H6O |
| Molar Weight | 46,07 g/mol |
| Melting Point | -114,5 °C |
| Boiling Point | 78,3 °C (at 1013 hPa) |
| Density | 0,79 g/cm³ (at 20 °C) |
| Refractive Index | – |
| pH | 7,0 (at 10 g/l in H₂O, 20 °C) |
Applications
Ethanol is applied in various ways, for instance:
1. Chemical Industry
As a raw material in chemical syntheses, as a cleaning agent or thinner.
2. Cosmetics
As a solvent and disinfectant in perfumes, hair gels, and lotions.
3. Energy & Transport
As a biofuel (bioethanol) or fuel additive.
Interessing Links
- CAS Common Chemistry – Ethanol
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – For chemical information and regulations.
- PubChem – Ethanol of the National Library of Medicine by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NIH-NCBI).
- Wikipedia – Ethanol