C 8.2 Ethanol Flashcards
(10 cards)
What is ethanol?
A type of alcohol with the molecular formula C₂H₅OH used as a solvent, fuel, and in alcoholic drinks.
What are the two ways to produce ethanol?
Hydration of ethene and fermentation of sugars.
What is the hydration of ethene?
Reacting ethene (from crude oil) with steam at high temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst.
What are the conditions for hydration of ethene?
Temperature: 300°C
Pressure: 60–70 atm
Catalyst: Phosphoric acid.
What are the advantages of hydration of ethene?
Fast, continuous process, produces pure ethanol.
What are the disadvantages of hydration of ethene?
Non-renewable (ethene comes from crude oil), requires high energy input.
What is fermentation?
The biological process where yeast converts sugars (like glucose) into ethanol and carbon dioxide.
What are the conditions for fermentation?
Temperature: 30°C
Yeast as a catalyst
Anaerobic conditions (no oxygen).
What are the advantages of fermentation?
Renewable (uses plant sugars), low energy process.
What are the disadvantages of fermentation?
Slow, produces impure ethanol (needs distilling), batch process (less efficient).
