Question

Write two uses of alcohol.

Answer 1

Alcohols are formed when a hydrogen atom in hydrocarbon, aliphatic and aromatic is replaced by –OH group. Alcohols have wide applications in out day to day life. For example, ethanol is used for polishing a wood furniture.

Complete Step by step answer: First let us discuss alcohol and their properties.
In alcohols, the oxygen of the –OH group is attached to carbon by a sigma ($\sigma$) bond formed by the overlap of a $s{p^3}$ hybridized orbital of carbon with a $s{p^3}$ hybridized orbital of oxygen. The bond angle in alcohols is slightly less than the tetrahedral angle.
We have read some very basic information about alcohol now we will discuss their uses.
Methanol and ethanol are among the two commercially important alcohols so we will discuss their uses.
Methanol, $C{H_3}OH$, also known as ‘wood spirit’, was produced by destructive distillation of wood. Methanol is a colourless liquid and boils at 337K. It is highly poisonous in nature. Ingestion of even small quantities of methanol can cause blindness and large quantities causes’ even death. Methanol is used as a solvent in paints, varnishes and chiefly for making formaldehyde.
Methanol also burns to form carbon dioxide and water. It can be used as a petrol additive to improve combustion, and its use as a fuel in its own right is under investigation.
Now come to ethanol. Ethanol,${C_2}{H_5}OH$ is obtained commercially by fermentation, the oldest method is from sugars. The sugar in molasses, sugarcane or fruits such as grapes is converted to glucose and fructose.
In wine making grapes are the source of sugars and yeast. Ethanol is used as a solvent in the paint industry and in the preparation of a number of carbon compounds.

Note: Ethanol is usually sold as industrially methylated spirits, which is ethanol with a small quantity of methanol and possibly some color added. Because methanol is poisonous, industrial methylated spirits are unfit to drink, allowing purchasers to avoid the high taxes levied on alcoholic drinks.