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Lesson 6 of 15

8 min

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Water freezes on a very cold night. Ethanol stays liquid.

Ethanol — the two-carbon chain with the –OH group.

Read each use of ethanol. Tap the property it needs.

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The rule

Ethanol is a two-carbon chain with –OH. It dissolves many things, burns well, and stays liquid in the cold. Each property earns a use.

Ethanol is C₂H₅OH, a clear liquid at room temperature. This lesson studies ethanol only as a chemical. Drinking alcohol harms the body.

Ethanol's properties and the use each one earns
PropertyThe use it earns
Dissolves many things, and mixes with water in any amountMedicines and tinctures. Tincture of iodine is iodine in ethanol.
BurnsA fuel. It can be mixed with petrol.
Stays liquid far below 0 °CA liquid that does not freeze in cold weather.

Ethanol boils near 78 °C. It freezes below −100 °C.

Water freezes at 0 °C.

Try the lab to finish this lesson.