Oct 18, 2025 · Perhaps the two best-known alcohols are ethanol and methanol (or methyl alcohol). Ethanol is used in toiletries, pharmaceuticals, and fuels, and it is used to sterilize …

Cetyl alcohol is used widely in lubricants, emulsifiers, insecticides, and detergents. Because it is not readily hydrolyzed, cetyl alcohol can be applied as a thin film over a surface (e.g., on the …

Oct 9, 2025 · Isopropyl alcohol is mixed with water for use as a rubbing-alcohol antiseptic. It is also used in aftershave lotions, hand lotions, and other cosmetics. In industry it is used as an …

Oct 23, 2025 · The liquid biofuel in greatest production is ethanol (ethyl alcohol), which is made by fermenting starch or sugar. Brazil and the United States are among the leading producers of …

Several of its natural and synthetic esters have long been used in perfumery; the alcohol itself has become important in the second half of the 20th century as a developer booster in the …

Alcohol affects the central nervous system and is classified as a depressant. Under some conditions, however, alcohol can serve as an excitant, while under others it has the effect of a …

Instead, PVA is made by dissolving another polymer, polyvinyl acetate (PVAc), in an alcohol such as methanol and treating it with an alkaline catalyst such as sodium hydroxide.

Discover the structure, types, and function of alcohols Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Oct 24, 2025 · The absorption of food, water, and electrolytes by the stomach is practically negligible, but iron and highly fat-soluble substances such as alcohol and some drugs are …

Sep 13, 2025 · glycerol, a clear, colourless, viscous, sweet-tasting liquid belonging to the alcohol family of organic compounds; molecular formula HOCH 2 CHOHCH 2 OH.