Alcohol, or spirit, C2H6O, or C2H5OH (ethyl, or wine, alcohol, methyl carbinol). Ordinary, or absolute (i.e., anhydrous), alcohol is a colorless, easily mobile, flammable liquid, pungent in taste, lighter,... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron

ALCOHOL- Arab. alkohl. A colorless, flammable and easily volatile liquid obtained by distilling fermented sweet liquids. Explanation of 25,000 foreign words that have come into use in the Russian language, with the meaning of their roots. Mikhelson A.D., 1865 ... Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language

alcohol- alcohol, alcohol, (alcoholic, alcoholic, intoxicating, strong) drinks, (intoxicating, amusing, intoxicating, bacchus) potion, booze, alcohol, liquid currency, connecting rod, drinker, heating, Ivashka Khmelnytsky, alcohol, fuel, intoxicating, alcoholic beverages , gifts… … Synonym dictionary

alcohol- I, m. alkool (alc, ohol) Arabic 1586. Ray. chem. Wine alcohol, purified by distillation from all impurities. Plants, such as rye and malt, after complete dissolution, produce so-called alcohol, alcohol of a very volatile nature. Ipp. 1 119. From… … Historical Dictionary of Gallicisms of the Russian Language

ALCOHOL- ALCOHOL, alcohol, husband. (from Arabic: al kuhl). Same as alcohol (chemical). || Wine alcohol. || Wine, spirits (colloquial). Eliminate alcohol from the everyday life of workers. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

alcohol- (alcohol is not recommended; common in the speech of doctors) ... Dictionary of difficulties of pronunciation and stress in modern Russian language

ALCOHOL- ethyl alcohol, ethanol. The most common narcotic substance in Europe, Russia, North America, and parts of Asia, which has a depressive effect on the nervous system. A. is known as a significant component,... ... The latest philosophical dictionary

ALCOHOL- ALCOHOL, me, husband. 1. Monohydric alcohol (special). 2. In general, wine and spirits. | adj. alcoholic, oh, oh. Alcohol addiction (painful craving for alcohol). Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 … Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

ALCOHOL- male, chem. the smallest purified dust, powder, beads; | pure wine alcohol, anhydrous alcohol (bread or fruit); wine alcohol, sorry. Alcoholic, alcoholic, guilty; alcoholic, the same, more in the sense of similarity, similarity; alcoholic...... Dahl's Explanatory Dictionary

alcohol- — EN alcohol A group of organic chemical compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. The molecules in the series vary in chain length and are composed of a hydrocarbon plus... ... Technical Translator's Guide

Books

Alcohol. Doctor's conversations. The Smart Drinker's Guide, Dr. Stutgaford has been interested in alcohol (both as a doctor and as a consumer) since his time in the army and university. His belief that moderate alcohol consumption... Series: Oxford University Library Publisher: SmartBook, Buy for 645 rub.
Alcohol in European culture, V. M. Lovchev, The monograph “Alcohol in European Culture” examines the main mechanisms for introducing behavior patterns associated with the consumption of alcohol and other psychoactive substances into European culture... Publisher:

Alcohols are a fairly large group of chemicals, but in common parlance this concept often refers to ethanol (also known as ethyl alcohol), which is a colorless liquid with disinfectant and bactericidal properties. Ethanol is widely used for the preparation of alcoholic beverages (mainly vodka), in medicine, perfumery, electronics and other industries.

The quality of alcohol depends on the raw materials and the degree of purification. For the production of food ethanol, raw materials rich in carbohydrates are used: wheat, rye, oats, corn, potatoes, sugar beets, various fruits, molasses (black molasses). Luxury brands of alcohol must be made from wheat and rye, and the addition of potatoes, beets or molasses reduces the quality.

Brands of ethyl alcohol for vodka

According to GOST R 51652-2000 “Rectified ethyl alcohol from food raw materials. Technical specifications" depending on the degree of purification, ethanol is divided into:

first grade alcohol– not used for the production of alcoholic beverages;
highly purified alcohol– made from a mixture of grain, potatoes, sugar beets, black molasses (in any proportions). Subject to minimal filtration from fusel oils and impurities. It is used to make tinctures, liqueurs and economy-segment vodka;
"Basis"– produced from grain and potatoes in any proportions, but the content of potato starch in the raw material cannot be more than 60%. Mid-price vodka is made from this alcohol;
"Extra"– made from the same raw materials as “Basis”. Due to better purification, it has a lower content of methanol and esters. This alcohol is also used to make mid-price vodka;
"Lux"– made from grain and potatoes in any proportions, but the potato starch content cannot be more than 35%. The alcohol goes through several stages of filtration. Premium vodka is made from it;
"Alpha"– made exclusively from grain raw materials (wheat or rye). This alcohol contains the least amount of impurities and is used to produce super-premium vodka.

Despite the fact that, according to GOST, alcohol should not have a pronounced taste, each type of vodka has its own unique taste and smell. Almost any vodka is a blend (mixture) of several alcohols of different classes diluted with water. Unfortunately, manufacturers usually do not provide information about the percentage of a particular type of alcohol in vodka.

A buyer who knows the differences between brands of food grade ethanol will understand that if the label says “highest purified alcohol,” then we are talking about the worst vodka, even if its price is not the lowest.

Types of alcohol

Depending on the stage of production, the following types of alcohol are distinguished:

raw alcohol;
rectified alcohol;
drinking ethyl alcohol.

Raw alcohol with a strength of about 88% is obtained by distillation (distillation) of fermented raw materials. In fact, this is ordinary moonshine. It contains a large amount of fusel oils and other impurities.

For purification, raw alcohol is subjected to rectification. The boiling points of impurities contained in the distillate differ from the boiling point of pure ethanol. Impurities that boil at low temperatures are called head impurities, and at high temperatures they are called tail impurities. To separate them, high (up to several meters) distillation columns are used. During this process, the concentration of harmful substances can be minimized, and the alcohol strength can be increased up to 96 degrees.

To produce drinking ethyl alcohol, the rectified alcohol is diluted with distilled water so that the strength of the resulting liquid is 95%.

The resulting alcohol from rectification is called drinking alcohol only because it is used for the production of alcoholic beverages and medicines. Drinking pure alcohol is not recommended, as it burns the mucous membranes.

Medical alcohol, the purity of which is considered by many to be the standard, is properly diluted rectified ethanol.

Types of alcohol

Foreign classification. Depending on the raw material, the main types of food alcohol are distinguished:

wine (fruit);
grain;
potato.

Wine alcohol is the basis for the production of different types of brandy, in particular cognac. In addition to grapes, alcohol can be produced from other fruits. So, Calvados is a distillate from fermented apples, slivovitz is from plums, tequila is from agave.

Grain distillates: wheat, rye, barley, corn are used to make whiskey.

Due to hydrocyanic acid and a high concentration of harmful impurities, potato alcohol in its pure form is prohibited for the production of alcoholic beverages in Russia and most EU countries.

These varieties can only be called alcohol at a stretch, since rectification is not used to obtain them. Quality is improved by multi-stage distillation (often double or triple) with separation into fractions.

When it comes to alcohol, many people first think of alcoholic beverages. But the benefits of this substance are by no means limited only to the production of alcohol. Although it, when consumed in reasonable doses, can play a beneficial role for our body.

Alcohol and its types

It is the English “Spirit” that underlies the Russian name “alcohol”. This substance is an organic product (derivative) whose chemical formula contains a hydroxyl group. There are different classifications of alcohols. According to one of them, monoatomic, diatomic and polyatomic substances are distinguished. Chemists also group them into unsaturated, saturated and aromatic. Another classification provides for the division of alcohols into primary and secondary.
Simple alcohol is a colorless liquid, but with a characteristic odor and taste, easily soluble in any proportion. And the more atoms in alcohols, the more easily they combine with water. But for oily and fat-containing substances, alcohol itself serves as a solvent.

In nature, this substance is usually found in essential oils. The leaves of many plants contain methyl alcohol. After fermentation of organic products, ethyl alcohol is formed. By the way, some vitamins also belong to this category of substances, for example.

Chemists define alcohol as a substance obtained by the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide under the influence of catalysts. The following alcohols are most often used in various areas of life:

ethyl;
methyl;
phenylethyl.

But today we will pay more attention to the ethyl substance, which is widely used in the food industry, medicine, and cosmetology.

How is ethanol made?

For technical purposes, alcohol is used, obtained from ethylene, subject to hydration using sulfuric acid. In this form the substance is included in:

medications;
various resins of artificial origin;
explosive substances;
aromatic substances.

Alcohol obtained after fermentation of sugary substances is suitable for the food industry. As a rule, in this case, the raw materials are berries, fruits, potatoes, cane,. To “start” the fermentation reaction, enzymes and bacteria are used.

The process of “birth” of alcohols consists of several stages:

selection and preparation of raw materials;
breaking down starches into simple sugars;
fermentation (yeast);
distillation;
product cleansing.

But despite the fact that theoretically making alcohol looks quite simple, repeating this entire process at home, and even creating alcohol of the correct concentration (from 96 to 100 vol.) is quite problematic.

Characteristics of ethyl alcohol

Ethyl alcohol, known throughout the world by its molecular formula C2H5OH, is a colorless liquid with a boiling point of 78 degrees Celsius. The substance has a pungent odor. It burns with a smokeless blue flame, which is not always noticeable in daylight. The physical characteristics of a substance are determined by the presence of a hydroxyl group and the length of the carbon chain. Ethanol serves as a universal solvent for various substances, such as acetone, benzene, tetrachloride, chloroform, ethylene glycol.

Alcohol entered human life many thousands of years ago. Historians believe that the first ethyl alcohol appeared about 8 thousand years ago. It is believed that the substance appeared accidentally - as a result of fermentation of fruit drinks. And the “authorship” of the first alcohol product made in the laboratory is attributed to Arab chemists. Modern researchers believe that their colleagues in ancient times were able to first create a drink with a high ethanol content back in the 6th century. But in Europe, the first ethanol was created by the Italians, presumably in the 11th century. In Russia, the first time they heard about the alcoholic drink was in 1386, when travelers brought aquavit from Genoa. Then began the era of creating alcoholic herbal and berry infusions, the so-called bread wine (from rye). Russians acquired pure alcohol of their own production more than 4 centuries later.

Why is it useful?

To adequately assess the role of alcohol in our lives, it is not enough to remember only the food and liquor industries, where ethanol is the main component of alcoholic beverages. The application of this substance is much wider. It is difficult to do without this substance in medicine, the chemical industry, and in the production of perfumes and cosmetics.

Alcohol is:

antiseptic;
deodorizing agent;
foam absorber for ventilation;
base for tinctures;
food preservative;
solvent;
fixing agent for alcoholic beverages;
warming rub;
basis for compresses.

And this is not all, but only the main areas of application of ethyl liquid.

Therapeutic properties of ethanol

As doctors say, alcohol is both a tonic and a poison. The difference lies only in the dose of the substance taken. It is believed that moderate consumption of drinks that contain ethanol is good for the cardiovascular system, they protect against the formation of gallstones and diabetes. But it is enough to cross the line between “moderate use” and “abuse”, and the likelihood of developing cancer, diseases of the digestive and nervous system increases several times.

Antiseptic

In pharmacology, this substance serves as a universal disinfectant. Antibacterial gels consist of almost 62% ethanol. It effectively kills most bacteria and fungi, as well as some viruses.

Antidote substance

It is ethyl alcohol that is used as an antidote for some poisonings. In particular, it is effective in eliminating the effects of an overdose of methanol or ethylene glycol.

For cores

A recent study conducted by scientists from Boston University proves that ethanol in small quantities reduces the risk of developing coronary heart disease. Scientists have noticed a similar effect in the case of cancer. But the researchers also noted another, not so comforting, side of the alcohol topic: most suicides were committed under the influence of alcohol. And against the background of frequent alcohol consumption, many serious diseases develop.

From a biological perspective, the idea that alcohol protects against heart disease makes sense. Moderate alcohol consumption increases the level of high-density lipoprotein (the so-called good lipoprotein), which, in turn, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, certain chemical processes triggered in the body by alcohol improve blood clotting, increase insulin sensitivity, and prevent the formation of small blood clots that can block blood flow to the heart or brain.

Joint pain

Rubbing with alcohol tinctures, which have a warming effect, helps relieve joint pain. External ethanol preparations relieve muscle pain.

Benefits and risks of alcohol at different stages of life:

pregnant women - there is practically no benefit;
men under 30 years of age – alcohol increases the risk of accidents, which offsets the possible benefits for the heart with moderate alcohol consumption;
men under 60 years of age - moderate consumption of drinks containing ethyl alcohol can provide protection against cardiovascular diseases, the benefits potentially outweigh the harm (provided that the person is not prone to alcoholism);
women under 60 years of age - it is more difficult to calculate the benefit-risk ratio in this case, since approximately the same number of women die each year from breast cancer (the risk increases with alcohol) and cardiovascular diseases (the risk decreases with alcohol). However, as the survey showed, women are more afraid of developing breast cancer than heart disease.

Moderate doses of alcohol: to whom and how much

You can often hear that drinking alcohol in moderation does not harm the body. But how do you understand what a “moderate dose” is? Nutritionists have calculated the approximate safe amount of alcohol for healthy adults. It is approximately 44 ml of ethyl alcohol, which corresponds to 355 ml of beer and 148 ml of wine.

On the contrary, a dose of 7-8 g of pure alcohol per 1 kg of body weight is a lethal portion of alcohol.

Ethanol as a medicine

Infusion for the treatment of sore throat, colds, bronchitis

Take in different proportions (about 100 g) of calendula, Kalanchoe and eucalyptus leaves. Pour the crushed plants with alcohol (the liquid should cover the plants). Leave for 72 hours in a dark place. Gargling will help get rid of diseases: dilute 1 part of the tincture with 10 parts of water. Gargle three times a day.

Choleretic alcohol infusion

Infuse barberry fruits for 14 days (mix 40 g of fresh berries with 40 g of dried ones). Take the medicine 3 times a day, 20-25 drops per 50 ml of water. The course of treatment is at least 2 weeks.

Vasoconstrictor tincture

Pour half a liter of alcohol into about 10 horse chestnuts. After 2 weeks of exposure, rub the alcohol tincture with massage movements into the areas of varicose vessels. To enhance the effect, take the same remedy orally - 30 drops 3 times a day. The effect of treatment will become noticeable within a month.

Hazardous properties

The dangerous properties of alcohols are primarily encountered by people who work with their fumes. Excessive exposure to such conditions causes a state close to drug intoxication. Longer contact with methanol or isopropanol vapors (after 8-12 hours) can cause lethargy or even death.

Methyl alcohol is an extremely dangerous poison. Taken orally, it causes poisoning, which leads to convulsions, epileptic seizures, tachycardia, and blindness. It is enough to take a little more than 30 mg of the substance for a person to die without proper medical care. And what is most important: methyl alcohol is extremely quickly absorbed into the body - hence the high risk of poisoning.

Although ethyl alcohol is used in the food industry, it is also unsafe. It quickly enters the bloodstream (the body absorbs the substance through the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines). Ethanol does not have the best effect on the functioning of the nervous system, causing either depression or too much excitement.

It is also worth knowing that after each intake of alcohol (even in not very large doses), some brain cells die. And this is already a scientifically proven fact. Particles of the cerebral cortex killed by alcohol are excreted from the body along with urine.

Under the influence of alcohol, almost all internal organs suffer. The liver, kidneys, pancreas, and gall bladder suffer the most. Excessive alcohol consumption causes:

alcoholism;
inflammation of the liver (alcoholic hepatitis);
cirrhosis;
hypertension;
cardiomyopathy;
oncological diseases (oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, breast, liver, colon);
sleep disturbance.

Ethanol and pregnancy

One of the most important elements for pregnant women. The thing is that this vitamin promotes the correct development of the spinal cord of the embryo, and then throughout pregnancy affects the correct formation of the fetus. Folic acid is necessary for the creation of DNA - a molecule that actually carries the code for the continuation of life. In addition, proper cell division in an already formed body will also become impossible without sufficient consumption of folic acid.

Alcohol blocks the body's ability to absorb vitamin B9 and deactivates the substance already contained in tissues and cells. Scientists suggest that the development of breast cancer and some other types of cancer is the result of a lack of folic acid due to alcohol abuse.

Consumption of drinks containing ethyl alcohol causes intoxication, the level of which depends on the amount of alcohol consumed. The presence of alcohol in the body is determined in a laboratory, by testing blood or urine, but an overdose of alcohol is also noticeable by external signs. The most common:

confusion or unconsciousness;
lack of coordination;
nausea and vomiting;
slow or irregular breathing;
memory loss;
weakness.

The effect of alcohol poisoning is enhanced even more if you take alcohol along with certain medications. You should not combine ethanol with antidepressants, paracetamol, painkillers or sedatives, or anticonvulsants.

And it is important to completely give up alcohol:

pregnant women;
people diagnosed with alcoholism;
for diseases of the liver and pancreas;
with heart failure and weak heart;
persons with vascular diseases.

Alcohol standards

It is not so important what kind of alcoholic drink a person consumes, since alcohol is present in any of the options. It is important how exactly alcohol is consumed. If you drink 7 servings of alcohol on Saturday, this is not at all equivalent to consuming the safe norm: 1 serving of drink per day. In both cases, the effect on the body will be completely different. But, as studies show, even if alcohol appears in small quantities in the diet 3-4 times a week, this is already a problem. The result is an increased risk of myocardial infarction by 3-4 times. Women whose diet includes 2 alcoholic drinks daily (even low-alcohol drinks) are almost 40% more likely to develop breast cancer.

Alcohol and genes

Genetics, according to researchers, plays an important role in determining alcohol preferences. The rule of inheritance discovered by Gregor Mendel also works in the case of alcoholism.

The human body produces an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase, which helps metabolize alcohol. And this enzyme, as a rule, is presented in the body in two variations: the first allows you to break down alcohol more quickly, the second does it slowly. People who drink alcohol in moderation produce both versions of the enzyme. Organisms that abuse alcohol have only one of the options, usually the “fast-acting” one. In this case, the enzyme breaks down the alcohol even before the body has time to benefit from it, and the only effect of alcohol on the body is negative.

Alcohol entered our daily lives many centuries ago. It can be both a useful and extremely harmful substance if you do not follow the rules of use, as well as the dose of consumption of this substance. And this is the main thing to remember about alcohols. Otherwise, alcohol turns into a drug, the effect of which is compared to cocaine.

Article reading time: 2 minutes

How to drink pure alcohol

Is ethyl alcohol dangerous for humans? Let's deal with this problem so as not to harm our health. All alcoholic drinks are based on ethyl alcohol.

What is ethyl alcohol?

Only ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is suitable for consumption as a food product. It is usually distilled from grains, potatoes or fruits. But it is impossible to buy pure alcohol in stores. As a rule, manufacturers dilute it with distilled water, resulting in vodka.

In Russia, they learned about drinks with alcohol during the reign of Peter I. At the end of the 17th century, Italian merchants brought alcohol to Moscow, where its qualities were demonstrated to the Grand Duke, boyars, and doctors.

Never drink anything other than ethanol. Other types of alcohols are toxic:

Methanol (methyl alcohol).
Isopropyl alcohol.

There are widespread stories in the community about people getting seriously poisoned when they drank alcohol. The result was blindness and death. If a person manages to survive, he often loses his sight. Such stories are not “horror stories”. This often happens in real life. It’s just that people who were poisoned did not understand what kind of alcohol they could drink.

Methanol is the strongest toxic substance that affects the human body. It causes irreparable damage to many organs, causing their functioning to stop. 100 ml of methanol is a lethal dose. Death inevitably occurs if a person affected by this poison does not receive medical assistance in a timely manner.

Is it possible to distinguish ethyl alcohol from methanol?

This can be checked in different ways.

Copper wire, twisted at the end into a spiral and heated red-hot over a fire, must be immersed in methyl alcohol. You can clearly smell the very unpleasant odor of formaldehyde. It cannot be confused with other smells. Ethyl alcohol does not have this effect.
Light the alcohol and observe the color of the fire. Ethyl alcohol burns with a blue flame, while industrial alcohol has a green flame.
Test alcohol with potatoes. A piece of raw potato should be placed in a vessel with alcohol. If after a few hours the color of the potatoes has not changed, this indicates that it is food grade ethyl alcohol. You can drink it. In methanol, the color of potatoes turns pink.
Buy alcohol only in branded, trusted stores.

Officially, methanol should not be on the public market. It is used only for technical purposes. But it is often used for criminal purposes to produce counterfeit alcoholic beverages. Therefore, you need to use alcoholic beverages with caution. You cannot drink alcohol whose origin is unknown.

Is it possible to drink ethyl alcohol without harm to your health?

For the production of alcoholic drinks (vodka, wine and others) only a single type of alcohol is used - ethyl. Only it does not pose a danger to the body if taken in reasonable quantities. You can drink pure ethanol. But undiluted ethyl alcohol very irritates the throat and increases the degree of intoxication. You can take other drugs that contain ethyl alcohol orally.

A hangover is a manifestation of alcohol poisoning in the body. If you feel sick the day after drinking alcohol, you have a hangover.

What happens when we drink ethyl alcohol?

Central nervous system disorder
When people drink alcohol, the alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream and travels throughout the body and brain. Next comes the effect of alcohol on the brain – the central nervous system. Problems arise with emotions, perception of the surrounding world, hearing, vision and movements.
The norm for alcohol consumption is one or two glasses of wine or a glass of vodka, but not every day.
Large doses of alcohol cause addiction to alcohol. A person who is intoxicated changes completely. Usually, people first become more talkative and sociable, and then become aggressive.

Intoxication from ethyl alcohol

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to ethyl alcohol poisoning. Characteristic signs of alcohol intoxication and intoxication are:

Severe vomiting. The first sign of alcohol poisoning may be vomiting. It is an attempt by the body to cleanse itself of the toxic effects of alcohol on the body.
Other complications may include fainting, confusion, bluish skin, and hypothermia.
Feeling tired and apathetic.
Breathing problems. During vomiting, respiratory functions may be impaired.
Very low glucose level.
Liver damage.
Fainting or seizures. One of the most serious complications is seizures. They can cause permanent brain damage and disruption of the function of certain cells in the brain.
Severe alcohol poisoning can lead to death or loss of life.
There may be severe dehydration. If left untreated, it can be potentially fatal.

Alcohol intoxication can be extremely dangerous, sometimes even fatal.

Alcohol poisoning often occurs when a large amount of alcohol (for example, more than five glasses of alcoholic beverages) is consumed within a short period of time.

Long-term effects of alcoholism

Alcoholism occurs when an individual's body becomes dependent on alcohol. Alcoholism can have devastating effects on the body:

Liver problems (hepatitis and cirrhosis) can occur as a result of heavy drinking.
Excessive amounts of vodka and other drinks consumed can have a negative effect on the digestive system.
In addition, blood pressure may increase and lead to serious cardiovascular disease
Diabetes can be a serious result of heavy drinking.

The following conclusions can be drawn:

Ethyl alcohol can be taken orally.
But this substance is potentially dangerous. If you exceed your drinking limits, you can seriously harm your health.
Alcohol consumption standards must be observed.
You need to drink slowly, gradually, over a long period of time in one drinking session.
An overdose of alcohol should not be allowed. This is dangerous to your health.

Is it possible to ingest medical alcohol without harm to health?

Ethyl alcohol is used in medicine and the food industry. Medicines and alcoholic drinks are made from it. Many people are interested in whether it is possible to drink alcohol for medical purposes? This issue should be considered in more detail.

Pure medical alcohol

The pharmaceutical and food industries use ethanol of varying quality and purity. The following types of ethyl alcohol can be distinguished:

Medical alcohol. In medicine, an ethanol solution with a strength of 40 to 95% is used. It does not have such a high degree of purification as food grade alcohol and is intended for external use.
Alcohol class "Alpha" and "Lux". These are the highest quality food grade ethanol used in the production of vodka.
Alcohol "Basis" and "Extra". This product is of lower quality and is used for the production of inexpensive vodkas.

Can I drink rubbing alcohol? which is intended for external use? First of all, you need to pay attention to its composition and strength. If the label lists only ethanol and water among the ingredients, then drinking such alcohol is possible, but not advisable, since it is not intended for food use.

What happens if you drink ethyl alcohol 95%? This product should not be consumed undiluted, as this can lead to a burn to the throat and mucous membranes of internal organs, not to mention severe intoxication. It must be diluted with water by about half, then its strength will be approximately equal to the strength of vodka. Ethanol can be diluted with juices, fruit drinks or compote. It is not advisable to use carbonated water or alcoholic drinks for dilution, as this can lead to rapid and severe intoxication.

Is it possible to drink ethyl alcohol 70%? Or does it have to be diluted with water? We can say that it is not advisable to drink it undiluted. Drinks with an alcohol content of more than 50% can harm the body. It must also be remembered that even pure medical alcohol is more irritating to the mucous membrane than food alcohol. And its negative effects on the liver much stronger than that of a product intended for drinking.

Harm to health

The doses of medical ethanol consumed orally are also very important. An alcohol concentration of more than 5 g/l of blood can be fatal, and an amount of alcohol in a concentration of more than 3 g/l causes severe poisoning. It must be remembered that due to the lower quality of purification, medical ethanol causes poisoning more quickly than food ethanol. Therefore, you should drink it in lower doses. The following signs are observed during intoxication:

If these symptoms occur, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Dilute ethanol alcohol should be consumed in slow sips, avoiding an overdose. Excessive amounts of ethanol damage brain neurons and the liver. An overdose of drinks based on medical alcohol leads to a severe hangover.

Other types of alcohol-containing drugs

Pharmacies also sell other types of medical alcohol. They are intended for external use. Many consumers are interested in whether it is possible to drink alcohol based on these drugs. The effects depend on what substance is added to the ethanol. Most common the following types of medical alcohols:

To the question what kind of alcohol can you drink, the answer is clear: medical ethanol can be consumed internally without additives. At the same time, only in moderate doses, occasionally and always in diluted form. All other alcohol-containing products from the pharmacy are toxic.

Methanol poisoning

The most dangerous substitute for alcohol is methyl alcohol. It is this compound that can cause severe poisoning with blindness.

Methanol is virtually indistinguishable from ethanol in appearance, smell and taste. This is technical alcohol, which is used for the preparation of solvents, paints and varnishes. Ingestion of 10 ml of methanol can cause blindness, and 50 ml can be fatal. Signs of methanol intoxication are as follows:

flashing black dots before the eyes;
increased salivation;
impaired coordination of movements;
vomit;
pressure surges.

Sometimes symptoms of poisoning do not appear immediately, but as the poison accumulates in the body. A characteristic sign of intoxication is a deterioration in the condition a few days after drinking alcohol. If signs of poisoning occur methanol, you must urgently call an ambulance. Before the doctors arrive, the following measures must be taken:

Distinguish methyl alcohol from ethyl can be done using the following tests:

If you set fire to a liquid, ethanol burns with a blue flame, and methanol burns with a green flame.
You can put raw potatoes in alcohol. Ethanol does not change the color of the vegetable. Potatoes turn pink in methyl alcohol.
Dip a hot copper wire into the liquid. If there is an unpleasant odor, it is methanol.

Methanol poisoning is common occurs when drinking alcoholic beverages of dubious origin. To detect the presence of methyl alcohol in alcoholic products, it is necessary to carry out the following tests:

Pour the drink into a container and throw in baking soda. Soda dissolves completely in methanol, and a yellow precipitate forms in ethanol.
You can put potassium permanganate in the liquid. If bubbles form, the drink contains methanol.

Almost all types of industrial alcohol are unsuitable for consumption, even if they consist of ethanol. Usually, dyes or denaturing additives with an unpleasant odor and taste that are harmful to the body are added to such products. Aviation ethanol may contain salts of heavy metals, such compounds lead to serious poisoning.

The safest types of alcohol are food grade alcohols that undergo a high degree of purification and are intended for drinking. You can use medical ethanol only occasionally, in extreme cases, this should under no circumstances become a habit.

Is it possible to drink ethyl alcohol 95?

The list of alcoholic drinks that are available for consumption is quite varied. There are both low and high alcoholic drinks. Many people have a question: is it possible to drink ethyl alcohol? Let's talk about how it affects human health.

Almost all alcoholic drinks contain alcohol. The strength of the drink and its taste depend on its type and quality. According to its properties, in its pure form this substance has a pungent odor and taste; it is not for nothing that this word is translated from Latin as “spirit”. It can be obtained in the laboratory, and can also be found in nature.

There are three most common types: ethyl, methyl and phenyl ethyl. Each of them has its own area of application:

Ethyl, used in medicine and serves as the basis for the production of alcoholic beverages.
Methyl, intended for industry.
Ethyl phenyl, widely used in the field of cosmetology, production of cosmetics, hygiene products and solutions.

Since people who drink alcoholic beverages, especially alcoholics, do not understand this gradation, it is necessary to consider the benefits and harms of consuming both the substance itself in its pure form and drinks containing it. Ethyl alcohol derivatives are the most frequently encountered. It is important to know all its properties, how beneficial or harmful it is for humans, whether you can drink it or not.

Ethanol

This is the most common type for food use; it is also called medical. It is obtained by distilling potatoes, grains, fruits and other plant materials.

For the production of medical alcohol, as well as for food alcohol, the same components are used, the difference is that the medical variety is made from higher quality products. Its antiseptic effect is used in medicine. A solution of ethyl alcohol substance comes in different calorie contents, it all depends on the purpose of its use. The calorie content of an ethyl alcohol product is as follows:

96% ethyl - used in both technical and food production. This alcohol is used for medical purposes; in undiluted form it cannot be used for internal consumption. This solution is considered the purest alcohol.
95% ethyl is the most common in medicine, as it is used for the external treatment of certain diseases, for treating surgeon’s hands, during operations as an antiseptic, and on its basis, medical preparations of tinctures and solutions for external and internal use are made. Therefore, it rightfully has the name of medical alcohol.
70% ethyl - used for the production of tinctures and medications for external use. This solution is considered a good disinfectant and antiseptic.

Can you or can't drink rubbing alcohol?

What happens if you drink rubbing alcohol? If it is undiluted, it can severely burn the mouth and larynx. As a solution, this substance is harmful only in large quantities or with chronic use.

To produce high-quality 40% vodka, a 96% and 70% alcohol solution is usually used, which is diluted with water, ideally spring water, with the addition of other ingredients. Medical 95% alcohol can also be used to produce vodka, but this is extremely rare on an industrial scale. A 95% alcohol solution can be consumed in its pure form, but due to the strong taste and strong impact on the throat mucosa, it is advisable to dilute it with water or juice. The ideal proportion would be 3 parts 95% alcohol to 6 parts water. Taking an undiluted solution of 95% alcohol will significantly increase intoxication.

A 95% alcohol solution, like all ethyl substances, is safe for the body if the norm for its use is observed. We can say that this solution is even safer than alcoholic drinks derived from ethyl alcohol, since it contains less of all kinds of impurities and fusel oils.

Consequences of drinking medical alcohol

Drinking medicinal 95% alcohol, like any other alcoholic drink, if abused, can lead to poisoning of the body, so you need to know moderation in everything. If you use it constantly, it is fraught with addiction and alcohol dependence.

When the body is intoxicated with a medical alcohol substance, there are general symptoms characteristic of poisoning with any alcohol. If poisoning occurs, the following happens:

Addiction and dependence on the use of medical alcohol occurs in the same way as with the use of any other alcoholic beverages, if you overdo it, so it is better to use it according to its name, only for medical purposes in accordance with the antiseptic effect.

Any alcoholic drink contains ethyl alcohol. It is this component that has a detrimental effect on human health, depressing the central nervous system and destroying many internal organs. However, it is not prohibited by law, like some potent substances. Ethyl alcohol can be drunk because it does not pose a danger to life. It is the person himself who gives it destructive properties when he drinks alcohol often and in large quantities.

The emergence of ethanol

Alcoholic drinks have been consumed since ancient times. By accidentally tasting fermented fruit juice, people learned the properties of ethanol. After this, winemaking began to develop in the world, the products of which were initially not at all cheap. Wine recipes changed all the time, so everyone could choose a drink to suit their taste.

To obtain pure ethanol, it is necessary to undergo a process of distillation or distillation. This method has been known since the times of alchemists, so it was previously believed that this product was nothing more than the spirit of wine, since it was obtained in such an unusual way for those times. Alcohol production came to Europe in the 11th century with the invention of the distillation apparatus. In its pure form, people initially did not consume the resulting ethanol internally. After much experimentation, it turned out that alcohol ethers can have a hypnotic effect on humans.

After some time, people began to divide the resulting product into technical and food. Industrial alcohol could be obtained by splitting wood waste. To prevent anyone from consuming it as food, all sorts of additives with a bad smell began to be introduced into it so that people would not get poisoned. Pure ethyl alcohol very quickly found its use in medicine and was actively used during wars.

Today, the alcohol industry has separated the production of ethanol and alcoholic beverages. It brings large revenues to the treasury of states, being considered a highly developed sector of the national economy.

Properties, types and varieties

Ethanol has a number of characteristic properties that distinguish it from all other types of alcohols. Firstly, this alcohol has a characteristic, universally recognizable odor and a volatile base. A distinctive feature of wine alcohol is that its boiling point is 79 degrees Celsius, and its highest boiling point is 242 degrees. It should be remembered that ethanol has a high calorie content, which amounts to as much as 7.1 kilocalories per 1 gram of product. Ethanol can also be mixed with various liquids - water, acetone, ethers, and to separate water when distilling alcohol, its concentration in the distilled liquid should not exceed 96%.

You can drink ethyl alcohol when you make vodka or other alcohol from it. The strength of the drink decreases and it becomes less aggressive for the mucous membranes. However, not all types of ethanol are suitable for alcohol production.

The raw materials for the production of edible ethyl alcohol can be:

millet;
rye;
potato;
beet;
oats;
berries;
fruits.

At the same time, adding beets or potatoes to the production process as raw materials leads to a decrease in the quality of the resulting distillate.

According to government standards, today there are the following grades of ethanol produced in industry:

First grade alcohol. If the question arises whether they drink ethyl alcohol, then in the case of this product the answer is clearly negative - this brand is not used in the production of alcohol.
High quality alcohol. This ethanol is drunk in the form of tinctures and vodka in the economy segment.
"Basis". It is used for the production of alcohol in the middle price category.
"Extra". A distinctive feature of the brand is its high degree of purification from ethers and methanol. This ethyl alcohol can be drunk, which is why middle-class vodka is often made from it.
"Lux". This type contains less than 35% potato starch in its composition, it undergoes multi-stage filtration and is used for the high-end alcohol industry.
"Alpha". The product of this brand can be drunk because it is free of all kinds of impurities, it is made from pure grains and is used only in premium alcohol.

Moreover, each brand of ethanol has its own taste. Alcohol on store shelves most often includes a mixture of several brands of ethyl alcohol that you can drink.

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Among the types of ethyl alcohol, it is customary to distinguish the following:

raw - a product with a strength above 85%, in which there are a lot of impurities and oils, obtained by distilling fermented raw materials;
rectified – a product obtained by boiling raw materials, in which the amount of impurities is reduced and the strength is increased to 96%;
drinking alcohol – alcohol obtained by diluting the rectified alcohol with distilled water to a strength of 95%.

It is strictly forbidden to drink ethyl alcohol in its pure form, even if purified; drinking alcohol is used to produce medical products, as well as alcoholic beverages.

Depending on the basis for distillation, alcohols are divided into:

wine alcohol obtained from fruits, which is used for various alcoholic drinks due to the fact that it has a special taste and smell;
grain used exclusively for the production of whiskey for which it is suitable;
potato, rich in harmful impurities and hydrocyanic acid, not used in the alcohol industry.

However, in the process of producing alcoholic beverages, all of the above-mentioned alcohols undergo multi-stage purification and repeated distillation, only after which they become suitable for internal consumption.

Production and Application

The production of ethyl alcohol can be divided into three main technological stages:

At the preparatory stage, the raw materials must be cleaned of all kinds of impurities, after which the malt begins to be prepared.
At the main stage, the starch is boiled and saccharified, and then the fermentation of what is obtained as a result of these two processes begins. The mash is distilled and crude alcohol is obtained.
At the final stage, rectification is carried out, since the raw material cannot be used for food purposes due to the large amount of harmful substances that can cause severe poisoning.

Ethanol is used in many industries, not just as a raw material for alcoholic beverages. In the fuel industry, it acts as fuel for rockets, as well as an integral part of gasoline and other fuels. In the chemical industry, many substances are obtained with its help; it is used as a solvent. In medicine it acts as an antiseptic and antibacterial agent, is used to obtain tinctures and extracts, and helps fight poisoning with other alcohols. In the cosmetic industry, perfumes and various tonics, lotions and many other products are made on its basis.

And, of course, in the food industry, ethanol is used as the basis for any alcoholic beverages. It is also found in small quantities in some fermented milk products, kvass, and non-alcoholic beer. The most common in the food industry is wine alcohol, which is also used in the manufacture of baked goods as a preservative.

Impact on humans

Is it possible to drink ethyl alcohol? It is strictly forbidden to drink any alcohol in its pure form, as this will lead to burns of the mucous membranes. In addition, ethanol can have a narcotic, toxic, intoxicating or anesthetic effect on the human body, which should always be taken into account when taking products or drugs with such a component. How alcohol affects a person in a particular situation depends on the method of administration and its concentration. In large quantities, ethanol can poison a person and even lead to death. But when used correctly, it can work well in many medications without causing any harm to health.

The safest type of alcohol is wine alcohol, on the basis of which the highest quality and, so to speak, harmless alcoholic drinks are produced. But drinking ethanol in its pure form or in the form of low-quality cheap alcohol is strictly forbidden, since this can cause irreparable harm to your health.