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Is it harmful to drink diluted alcohol. Is it possible to drink ethyl alcohol (ethanol)

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Is it possible to drink medical ethanol 95

Some "innocent" mistakes can cost a person very dearly. If ethyl alcohol 95% has fallen into your hands, is it possible to drink it? Everyone already remembers that there is methyl And ethyl alcohol. And one of them leads to blindness and even death, even in very modest amounts. But how do you remember which one? After all, it is enough just to confuse and use a toxic poison in a circle of friends instead of a strong drink.

Distinguishing ethyl from methyl.

Let's decide how to distinguish one substance from another. There are several options for the process itself, you may need:

  1. Fire.
  2. Copper wire.
  3. A piece of potato.

The most exotic is the potato method. It is enough to put a piece of vegetable in the substance and wait a few hours. The piece began to turn pink - we have methyl alcohol in front of us. Coloring has not changed - ethyl.

Watch a video of how ethyl alcohol should burn:

An item that assumes the presence of wire. Heat it red hot and dip it into a container with liquid. The formaldehyde found in methyl alcohol will give a sharp unpleasant odor, which is difficult to confuse with something else.

So what can kill us?

As you might have guessed, it is methyl that will deprive you of your vision, after the first glass. On the same level with him in terms of toxicity isopropyl alcohol. These two substances are used in industry, medicine and perfumery. They are not designed for internal use.

So look carefully at the packaging and ask what exactly you are offered to use. An acquaintance may not know that the contents of the flask are deadly, he certainly did not graduate from the Chemistry Faculty. But you can stop the impending danger in time.

When is the best time not to drink?

Number 95 at the end indicates concentration, almost everyone knows this. But what concentration is optimal for ingestion? There are a lot of horror stories on the net that excessively high percentages can lead to burns of the mucous membranes and even death. Let's try to figure out when and what alcohol can be consumed at all:

  1. Do not drink after suffering migraine attacks or heart disease. Drinking alcohol can cause relapses.
  2. Refuse alcohol in an unfamiliar company or public place. Troubles can arise both with new acquaintances who have taken "on the chest", and with the law.
  3. Do not combine alcohol and drugs. Pharmacodynamics and kinetics of drugs is greatly changed by the action of ethyl.
  4. Don't downgrade. If alcohol or vodka has already entered your stomach, it is highly undesirable to add beer or wine to this. Intoxication will come much faster, a hangover will have to endure harder.
  5. Buy goods only in specialized and certified stores, large retail chains. This does not guarantee 100% quality, but significantly reduces the risk of poisoning.

The medical aspect of alcohol consumption.

Many resources advise drinking alcohol after and during shock conditions, frostbite, trauma, and neurosis. Remember that under the influence of alcohol, blood vessels dilate, and this can have undesirable consequences. During hypothermia, a spasm of peripheral veins occurs, and a redistribution of heat in the body occurs. This helps to maintain an optimal temperature level for the internal organs.

Now imagine that you drank alcohol and the vessels expanded dramatically.

During injuries and shocks, an increase in the diameter of the veins will not be beneficial. After all, the fullness of blood also increases, it is extremely difficult to stop bleeding in such conditions. And for the fight against diseases of the central nervous system this is a dubious option.

The nervous system of each person is strictly individual, it is difficult to say how exactly alcohol will affect you in certain concentrations and in a stressful situation. At such moments, a person must think soberly and collected in order to objectively assess the situation and the decisions made.

We determine the optimal concentration and taste.

And we still have not answered the main question regarding 95% ethyl alcohol. Yes, his you can drink, adequate doses will not lead to serious intoxication and catastrophic consequences. This alcohol is also called food, it is used in the production of alcoholic beverages. Look on the label or any other label to see if the solution has been purified. Technical alcohol used for other purposes, its use can discourage the desire to drink alcohol for many years to come.

As for the concentration, you don’t have to worry too much, you won’t be able to drink such an amount of alcohol to cause serious harm to your mucous membranes. Fortress and taste opaque hint you when to stop.

If you do not want to risk, you can dilute the liquid you have.

The drink will come out much more, the taste will become more pleasant, there is less risk of burning the mucous membrane of the larynx. Few people recommend drinking alcohol directly, in pure or diluted form. If you got a small canister or other decent container, try make a liqueur or other tincture. Of course, you have to spend time and make some efforts, you won’t be able to enjoy the result right away. But after a few months, you will thank yourself for such foresight and foresight.

If you have a bottle of 95% ethyl alcohol, is it possible to drink it - not the most difficult question. Much more problems can arise with attempts to create a really tasty and high-quality drink with its help.

Video: how to breed it, proportions

What kind of alcohol can be drunk without a threat to health? Is it possible to drink medical alcohol

Alcohol has been known since the time of Peter I. At present, the attitude towards this remedy is twofold. One of its advantages is the use in the manufacture of medicines. In this regard, some people are wondering what alcohol can be drunk so as not to harm the body. Of course, in any case, the impact of this tool will not be as positive as many expect.

Do they drink ethyl alcohol? Yes, but there are many cases of poisoning and not only that. Some people lost their sight and hearing after drinking such a drink.

In order for this not to happen, you need to know the answer to the question of what kind of alcohol you can drink. And also, of course, you should understand the main components of ethanol and the nature of its origin. In this article, this is exactly what will be discussed.

What is the difference between ethanol and methanol?

Drinking alcohol, is there such a thing? Yes, and the effect of this drink on a person depends on its type and amount drunk.

There are three main types of alcohol: ethyl, methyl and isopropyl. The last two of them are the strongest poisons. They instantly affect the lungs and nervous system. In case of poisoning with them, you must immediately provide first aid, as there may be a fatal outcome.

It should be noted that ethanol and methanol are very similar to each other in their taste, color and smell. For this reason, it can be difficult to distinguish them at home.

In order to check whether it is drinking alcohol or not, it must be set on fire. By the color of the flame, you can determine the type of product. So, technical alcohol burns with a green flame, and ethyl - blue.

In turn, methanol is used only in industrial needs, and it should not be sold in supermarkets. Unfortunately, at present there are a lot of fake products, so the situations may be different. For the same reason, you should not buy a drink of dubious origin. First of all, you need to ask the seller about where it was purchased.

Can you drink medical alcohol?

There is an opinion that this type of product should have a strength of 94%. Actually it is not.

As a rule, medical alcohol has a strength of about 69%. It is usually used for disinfection and external use. There is absolute alcohol and its solutions. Accordingly, their strength ranges from 96% to 39%.

Can you drink medical alcohol? It turns out that it is prescribed in a small dosage to those patients who have exhaustion. It has a stimulating effect on blood circulation and respiration. In addition, as mentioned earlier, it is in the composition of most medicines.

Also, some people often ask about what kind of alcohol to use for tinctures. So, ethanol is perfect for this. Do not forget that the remedy must be insisted according to the instructions and always in a dark place.

Some information about other types of liquid

There are several other types of drinking alcohol: alpha and luxury. They are in a fairly high price range. This is also noted for the high quality of the products.

What is the alcohol in vodka? What is used in its manufacture? There are also other types of alcohol. They are of lesser quality. This is the basis and extra. All these high-quality types of alcohol are used in the production of vodka products.

As an antiseptic in the field of pharmacology, ant tincture is used. Theoretically, you can drink it, but you should not, because this remedy does not go through all the degrees of purification that are used for alcohols in the production of vodka.

Technical alcohol should not be consumed in any case, since it contains hazardous substances. They lead to severe poisoning. This liquid is used only in enterprises.

Hydrolysis alcohol is made from woodworking waste and sawdust. As a rule, it is used in technical needs. When ingested, it causes severe poisoning. The taste of this remedy is salty, and there is also a chemical bitterness. Therefore, it can be distinguished from ordinary ethyl.

Cetyl alcohol is used in the field of cosmetology. It differs from other species in a large indicator of fat content. It will not be possible to use it, although of all it is considered the most gentle for the human body.

Salicylic acid is made from salicylic acid and ethyl alcohol. With the help of it, the skin is treated for various diseases. It is also used in cosmetology. If you drink it, the person will be poisoned.

Aviation alcohol is used in the operation of aircraft. It contains a large amount of metals. If this liquid is ingested, death occurs.

Thus, which alcohol can be drunk from all of the above, one can easily say - ethyl. Do not abuse your health and do not experiment with drinks.

About the strength of the liquid

The highest strength of alcohol reaches 97%, but you can not drink drinks of this type. It is also strictly forbidden to use alcohol products, the strength of which is higher than 49%.

This is explained by the fact that everything is bad for the liver and brain neurons. If you drink undiluted alcohol, you can easily get a burn of the esophagus and larynx.

Tinctures that are sold in pharmacies are not intended to be consumed in cups, they should be used for medicinal purposes. They are made on alcohol, the strength of which is 94%.

How should you drink safely?

Ethyl alcohol does not cause such severe harm to the human body as methyl. Based on the first liquid, alcoholic beverages and medicines are made.

Having figured out what kind of alcohol you can drink, consider how to do it safely. Pure ethanol should not be consumed, as this can lead to unpleasant consequences.

One of the safest methods is the dilution of vodka. Thanks to this, the fortress decreases, and its use will not entail almost any side effects, except for a hangover. So, you can dilute alcohol with juice or soda.

You can also make tinctures or liqueurs from this liquid. It is not recommended to mix alcohol and other alcoholic beverages with each other.

How can you harm your health when drinking this liquid?

Ethanol is used in the field of medicine and pharmacology, as well as in the manufacture of vodka products. It can cause the same harm to the body as a regular alcoholic drink. This happens when it is used in large quantities and in an undiluted state.

The load on the liver is stronger if you drink alcohol of a greater strength. When drinking undiluted alcohol, there will be a quick and severe intoxication, as well as a hangover by morning. In addition, a person can burn the esophagus and larynx.

Each body perceives this fluid differently. For this reason, it is worth observing the precautions when drinking this drink. Ethyl alcohol should be drunk in small doses. It is not recommended to do this on an empty stomach.

The use of alcohol negatively affects the nervous system. Namely, there is a deterioration in vision and hearing, speech becomes unrelated.

Symptoms of poisoning

The dosage of ethyl alcohol, which can be fatal, ranges from 5 to 7 ml per kg of human weight. The more weight people have, the more likely they are to survive drinking too much alcohol.

Signs of poisoning include nausea, convulsions, and dehydration. A person's body temperature drops, a blue integument is observed. The patient has confusion and difficulty breathing.

As mentioned earlier, alcohol abuse leads to death.

How should you choose the right drink?

The use of diluted alcohol in moderation practically does not harm the human body, but methyl and isopropyl alcohol almost always leads to death.

The latter are prohibited for free sale, but there are cases when they are used to make counterfeit alcohol.

You should not buy alcohol in unfamiliar places or from anyone. Buy more expensive goods in a specialized store, then you can require a license for alcohol.

If you still decide on a different purchase, check the alcohol using the combustion process.

Remember, drinking too much alcohol is bad for your health. Therefore, do not experiment with alcohol and do not overdo it with its dosage.

Is it possible to use medical alcohol inside without harm to health?

Ethyl alcohol is used in medicine and the food industry. Based on it, medicines and alcoholic beverages are made. Many people are interested in whether it is possible to drink medical alcohol? 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:

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

Is it possible to drink medical alcohol which is for outdoor use? First of all, you need to pay attention to its composition and strength. If only ethanol and water are listed on the label among the ingredients, then you can drink such alcohol, but it is undesirable, since it is not intended for food use.

What happens if you drink ethyl alcohol 95%? You should not use such a product undiluted, it can lead to burns of 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 undesirable to use carbonated water or alcoholic beverages for dilution, as this can lead to rapid and severe intoxication.

Can I drink ethyl alcohol 70%? Or does it need to be diluted with water? We can say that it is undesirable to drink undiluted. Drinks with a strength of more than 50% can harm the body. It must be remembered that even pure medical alcohol is more irritating to the mucous membrane than food. And its negative effect on the liver much stronger than the product intended for drinking.

Harm to health

The doses of medical ethanol taken 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 faster than food. Therefore, it should be drunk in lower doses. With intoxication, the following symptoms are observed:

With these symptoms, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Diluted ethanol alcohol should be consumed in slow sips, avoiding overdose. Excessive amounts of ethanol destroy brain neurons and 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 outdoor use. Many consumers are interested in whether it is possible to drink alcohol based on these drugs. The consequences 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 unambiguous: medical ethanol can be consumed orally without additives. At the same time, only in moderate doses, occasionally and always in a diluted form. All other alcohol-containing products from the pharmacy are toxic.

Methanol poisoning

The most dangerous surrogate 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 industrial 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 lead to death. Signs of methanol intoxication are as follows:

  • flickering black dots before the eyes;
  • increased separation of saliva;
  • impaired coordination of movements;
  • vomit;
  • pressure surges.

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

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

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

Often methanol poisoning occurs with the use of alcoholic beverages of dubious origin. To detect the presence of methyl alcohol in alcoholic products, the following tests must be carried out:

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

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

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

Alcohol has been known in Russia since the reign of Peter I. The name comes from the English word "spirit" and is translated into Russian as "spirit" or "soul". Until now, disputes have not subsided regarding whether it is possible to drink alcohol and how dangerous its use is for health. It's time for a definitive answer.

Many have heard stories about how people were poisoned by alcohol, went blind and even died. These are not just "horror stories", such cases really do happen. Just poisoned people did not know what kind of alcohol you can drink and what not.

Attention! Methyl (wood) alcohol is a poison for the human body. This is a toxic substance that quickly affects the nervous system, eyes, liver, lungs, and causes complete failure of these organs. The lethal dose of methyl alcohol is 100 ml. If the victim is not provided timely medical assistance, death is inevitable.

The problem is that methyl alcohol does not differ in taste and smell from ethyl (medical) alcohol. at home, I told you last time. There are 4 verification methods, I advise you to familiarize yourself with them and check the purchased alcohol each time.

Theoretically, methanol should not be sold freely, it is used only for industrial purposes and is subject to strict control. But anything can happen in our country, so if you decide to drink alcohol, you need to know exactly the source of its receipt, for example, it can be a winery or a pharmacy. Drinking alcohols of unknown origin is deadly.

For the production of alcoholic beverages, including vodka, only one type of alcohol is used - ethanol. It is safe in small amounts. It is pure ethyl alcohol that you can drink. Also, some products containing ethanol are suitable for ingestion, for example, medical and formic alcohol. Until recently, they could be purchased at a pharmacy. Now this is more difficult, but everything is possible.

Formic alcohol, which is used to treat many diseases, has a sharp specific smell, so drinking it is not very pleasant, and getting rid of the smell is quite difficult, but in terms of health it is safe (in reasonable doses).

Formic alcohol can be drunk if you do not pay attention to the pungent smell 🙂

All other alcohol-containing liquids are best left alone. Although alcohol can also be obtained mechanically from cologne, BF-2 glue and brake fluid, it will still contain harmful impurities at the molecular level, which can subsequently cause poisoning.

Do not repeat the experience of the characters from the film "Chronicle of the dive bomber", where the brave pilots mixed brake fluid with cherry syrup and got the "Chassis" liqueur. The use of such alcoholic beverages does not end with anything good.

Ethyl alcohol is present in any alcoholic beverage: in vodka, beer, wine, cognac. It is also sold in pharmacies, but its use is dangerous to health. In essence, it is not a drink that can be served at the table. Ethyl alcohol or ethanol is widely used for medical purposes, primarily for disinfection. Its use as an antidepressant or doping is highly undesirable. In some cases, such feasts end badly. Sometimes even the first emergency aid does not save. That is, death from the use of ethanol is not such a rare occurrence. However, people consume this chemical compound. And yet, ethyl alcohol - is it possible to drink it?

The boom in sales of pure ethanol falls on the early nineties dashing. If we start counting from that time, we can say with confidence that many people were poisoned by this chemical composition of poor quality. This list also includes methyl alcohol. Deadly poison was available at every turn, and this fact played in favor of those thirsty for a drink. A pure alcoholic product was taken from the hands, bought from the big men in the passages, on the streets from stalls. Then they did not even think about warning the population that a low-quality product would easily cause death.

People were thirsty and drank - poisoned, recovered, if they were lucky, and again bought a chemical liquid, where the ethanol content fluctuated between 96, 95, 70 degrees. Today, literacy among the population in this vein has grown. Now "connoisseurs" of alcoholic beverages clearly know what kind of alcohol you can drink and what not. Moreover, they will also tell you which dose is lethal and which is not. In general, alcoholics are now educated.

The content of ethyl alcohol in any alcoholic beverage already positions it as such. It is present in beer, especially in strong varieties, in vodka, wine, cognac. In beer, its amount is insignificant, but it is this ingredient that makes it possible to obtain a strong non-alcoholic drink. In beer, where the strength is 16-18 degrees, there is every suspicion that ethanol was added to the drink and, thereby, the fermentation process was stopped. However, this is not quite true. Some brewers brew this drink in an unconventional way, with the addition of a different yeast base. Therefore, in such beer, the percentage of alcohol content exceeds the value than in traditional varieties.

Who likes what

Production according to the classical technology, that is, the method of natural fermentation does not provide for the addition of alcohol, but there is an opinion that in pursuit of profit, dishonest brewers pour in a certain percentage of ethanol or wait for yeast to ferment until they reach a concentration of 12% in beer. Sometimes in beer it is felt to taste.

As for the method of artificially raising the degree, well-known manufacturers will never do this, since such steps will damage the company's reputation. According to them, it is already possible to achieve the desired value of alcohol in beer and adding it is simply unprofitable.

In our age, there is no need to drink ethyl alcohol. There is no need to know how much to use, so as not to get poisoned, and not to call an ambulance. There is no need to find out what dose is optimal for "lifting the mood." Today, many alcoholic beverages are sold that are relatively safe and it is not necessary to consume ethanol in its pure form. However, there are still individuals who prefer pure alcohol.

A dose of 95 is better for them than 100 grams of vodka. Such extreme people can be advised to be more careful, because instead of ethyl alcohol, it is easy to “wave” methyl alcohol by mistake, especially in a state of extreme intoxication. For those who prefer this particular chemical product, there are special tests. They will help determine the composition of the drinking.

You need to take: a potato tuber, a piece of copper wire. The potatoes are placed in a container filled with alcohol and waited for several hours. If the color of the vegetable has not changed, then it is ethyl. If it turned pink - methyl. The last one is not to drink. If you take a chance, the symptoms will be as follows: partial loss of vision. In 50% of cases - death. In frequent cases, in case of poisoning with this composition, even the first emergency aid does not help.

Methyl alcohol poisoning

To check the alcohol-containing liquid, you can use another method. Ignite a copper wire over a fire and lower it into the liquid. Methyl alcohol is determined by the pungent smell of formaldehyde. When a large amount of methyl enters the body, the nervous and cardiovascular systems will suffer. In this case, it is too late to specify the percentage or how much was drunk. Need immediate help.

Methyl alcohol - symptoms of poisoning:

  • a large dose is determined by the state: drowsiness, excited state;
  • there is vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain;
  • fog before the eyes, pain in the eyeballs;
  • severe migraines;
  • tachycardia, convulsions.

These symptoms and signs tell you what has happened. It is easier to provide proper assistance in case of mild poisoning. You should ask the victim how much it was drunk.

Other symptoms indicating the content of methyl in the drunk liquid. They appear on the second and third days. Methyl alcohol is kept in the body no less than another, for example, 95th, so the symptoms are clearly visible.

  • Loss of consciousness.
  • The onset of blindness.
  • Development of superficial or deep coma.
  • Pain in the legs.
  • In frequent cases, death.

All of these symptoms and signs are quite dangerous. There are many cases when a person died from drunk methyl. Therefore, in order not to need first aid, it is forbidden to drink methyl alcohol. And what about the "safe" 95th? It makes sense to indicate the effect of ethyl alcohol on the human body.

Signs of intoxication

Ethyl alcohol poisoning is also not uncommon - this can be said with full confidence. How many people died from the use of this chemical liquid - only God knows. Drinking ethyl concentrate without measure is tantamount to suicide. The lethal dose for each person is different, so there are no clearly defined limits on how much to drink.

One can consume 100 grams, others will master half a liter. The statement is especially true for alcoholics of the second stage, in whom the degree of tolerance to alcohol, during the formation of the disease, has developed into a stable form. Therefore, such concepts as the content of a percentage, a lethal dose or how much to drink so as not to die - for these people, these formulations are considered vague.

The following are the symptoms when ethyl alcohol poisoning is pronounced. Intoxication proceeds:

  • excessive sweating, increased sweating;
  • frequent urge to urinate;
  • pupil dilation;
  • redness of the skin texture.

Other symptoms: slurred speech, impaired attention, inability to stand on their own. All these signs indicate that an excessive amount of ethanol is present in the human body. The ethyl content is exceeded, which can lead to death. First aid is as follows: call an ambulance and protect the patient from alcohol, do not let him drink alcohol anymore. You can try to wash his stomach, give him medications (activated charcoal), take him to fresh air.

13.12.2017 Doctor Evgenia Aleksandrovna Miroshnikova 0

Ethanol: properties and applications

Ethanol is a substance with a characteristic odor and taste. It was first obtained as a result of a fermentation reaction. For the latter, various products were used: cereals, vegetables, berries. Then people mastered the processes of distillation and methods for obtaining a more concentrated alcohol solution. Ethanol (as well as its analogues) is widely used due to the complex of its properties. To avoid dangerous effects on the body, you should know the characteristics of the substance and the specifics of its use.

Ethanol (the second name is wine alcohol) is a monohydric alcohol, that is, it contains only one atom. The Latin name is Aethanolum. Formula - C2H5OH. This alcohol is used in various industries: industry, cosmetology, dentistry, pharmaceuticals.

Ethanol has become the basis for the production of various alcoholic beverages. This became possible due to the ability of its molecule to depress the central nervous system. According to regulatory documents, rectified ethyl alcohol has GOST 5962-2013. It should be distinguished from the technical version of the liquid, which is used mainly for industrial purposes. The production and storage of alcoholic products is carried out under the control of state bodies.

The benefits and harms of a substance

Ethyl alcohol, when used in strictly limited dosages, is good for the body. You can buy it in a pharmacy only with a doctor's prescription. The price fluctuates depending on the capacity. The benefits of ethanol are manifested in:

  • normalization of the functioning of the digestive tract;
  • prevention of myocardial diseases;
  • normalization of blood circulation;
  • blood thinning;
  • reduction of pain syndrome.

As a result of regular use of the substance in the body, oxygen starvation is observed. Due to the rapid death of brain cells, memory impairment occurs, sensitivity to pain decreases. The negative impact on the internal organs is manifested in the development of various concomitant diseases. Excessive alcohol consumption is dangerous with severe poisoning and the onset of coma.
Alcoholism is characterized by the development of both physical and mental dependence. In the absence of treatment and the cessation of the use of alcohol-containing substances, personal degradation occurs, full-fledged social ties are violated.

Properties

Ethanol is a natural metabolite. This lies in its ability to be synthesized in the human body.

The group of properties of wine alcohol can be divided into three categories:

  1. physical;
  2. chemical;
  3. fire hazardous.

Ethanol formula

The first category includes a description of the appearance and other parameters of a physical nature. Under normal conditions, ethanol is volatile, differs from other substances in its peculiar aroma and burning taste. The weight of one liter of liquid is 790 grams.

It dissolves various organic substances well. The boiling point is 78.39 °C. The density of ethanol (as measured by a hydrometer) is less than that of water, so it is lighter.

Ethyl alcohol is flammable and can ignite quickly. When burning, the flame is blue. Due to this chemical property, ethanol can be easily distinguished from methyl alcohol, which is a poison to humans. The latter, when ignited, has a green flame.

In order to determine vodka made with methanol at home, you need to heat a copper wire and lower it into vodka (one spoon is enough). The smell of rotten apples is a sign of ethyl alcohol, the smell of formaldehyde indicates the presence of methanol.

Ethanol is a flammable substance, since its ignition temperature is only 18°C. Therefore, when in contact with the substance, its heating should be avoided.

With the abuse of ethanol, it has a harmful effect on the body. This is due to the mechanisms that trigger the intake of any alcohol. A mixture of water and alcohol provokes the release of the hormone endorphin.

This contributes to the sedative-hypnotic effect, that is, the suppression of consciousness. The latter is expressed in the predominance of inhibition processes, which is manifested by such symptoms as reduced reaction, inhibition of movements and speech. An overdose of ethanol is characterized at the beginning by the occurrence of excitation, which is then replaced by inhibition processes.

Short story

Ethanol has been used since the Neolithic. Proof of this are traces of alcoholic beverages found in China on ceramics that are about 9,000 years old. Ethanol was first produced in the 12th century in Salerno. It was a mixture of water and alcohol.

The pure product was obtained in 1796 by Johann Tobias Lovitz. The scientist used activated carbon for filtering. For many years, this method of obtaining alcohol was the only one.
Subsequently, the formula for ethanol was calculated by Nicol-Théodore de Saussure. The description of the substance as a carbon compound was given by Antoine Lavoisier. XIX-XX centuries are characterized as a period of careful study of ethanol, when its properties were described in detail. Thanks to the latter, it has been widely used in various branches of human life.

What is the danger of ethanol?

Ethanol is one of those substances, ignorance of the properties of which can lead to negative consequences. Therefore, before using it, you should familiarize yourself with what the danger of wine alcohol is.

Can you drink?

The use of alcohol in the composition of alcoholic beverages is permissible under one condition: drink rarely and in small doses. With abuse, the development of physical and mental dependence, that is, alcoholism, occurs.

Uncontrolled use of alcohol-containing drinks (when the concentration of ethanol is 12 grams per 1 kilogram of body weight) causes severe intoxication of the body, which, if not promptly medically treated, can cause death.

Drinking ethanol in its pure form is impossible.

What diseases does it cause?

When using ethanol, the products of its decay in the body are of great danger. One of them is acetaldehyde, which belongs to toxic and mutagenic substances. Carcinogenic properties cause the development of oncological pathologies.

Excessive consumption of ethyl alcohol is dangerous:

  • memory impairment;
  • death of brain cells;
  • dysfunction of the digestive tract (gastritis, duodenal ulcer);
  • the development of liver diseases (cirrhosis), kidneys;
  • dysfunction of the myocardium and blood vessels (stroke, heart attack);
  • personal degradation;
  • irreversible processes in the central nervous system.

Application

A wide range of characteristics of ethanol has ensured its use in various directions. The most popular of them are the following:

  1. As a fuel for cars. The use of ethyl alcohol as a motor fuel is associated with the name of Henry Ford. In 1880, he created the first car that ran on ethanol. After that, the substance began to be used for the operation of rocket engines, various heating devices.
  2. Chemical industry. Ethanol is used to produce other substances, such as ethylene. Being an excellent solvent, ethyl alcohol is used in the production of varnish, paints, and household chemicals.
  3. Pharmaceutical industry. In this area, ethanol is used in different ways. The disinfecting properties of medical alcohol allow it to be used to treat the surgical field, the surgeon's hands. It is used to reduce the manifestations of fever, as a basis for compresses, tinctures. Ethanol is an antidote that helps with methanol and ethylene glycol poisoning. It has found use as a defoamer in oxygen delivery or mechanical ventilation.
  4. Cosmetic industry. Cosmetics and perfume manufacturers include ethanol in various colognes, eau de toilette, aerosols, shampoos, and other skin and body care products.
  5. Food industry. Ethyl alcohol is used as the main ingredient in alcoholic beverages. It is found in foods that have been obtained through fermentation processes. It is used as a solvent for various flavors and a preservative in the production of bread, buns, and confectionery. Ethyl alcohol is food additive E1510.
  6. Other directions. Wine alcohol is used for working with preparations of a biological nature.

Interaction with other substances

According to the instructions for use, ethanol, when used simultaneously, can enhance the effect of drugs that depress the central nervous system, circulatory processes, and the respiratory center.
Interaction with some substances is indicated in the table.

Ethanol, depending on its application, can be both useful and harmful. With the regular use of alcohol containing ethyl alcohol, addiction is formed. Therefore, the use of strong drinks as antidepressants should not become a habit.

In 1985, with the coming to power of Gorbachev, an active struggle against alcoholism began in the USSR by limiting the sale of alcoholic beverages. As a result, people began to brew moonshine, use various alcohol-containing liquids, even for technical purposes, drank undiluted medical alcohol ... In many cases, this led to disastrous consequences for health and even life.

Sometimes we hear that it is dangerous to use, for example, methyl alcohol (methanol). But ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is relatively safe ...

A few years ago, the book “Chemistry and Toxicology of Ethyl Alcohol” was published, written by a group of researchers led by a well-known Russian toxicologist, Professor V.P. necessary. It says that the modern "Russian vodka", which is a mixture of rectified with water, is extremely toxic. In addition, the higher the degree of purification of alcohol, the faster the drink is addictive.

Rectified, unlike distillate, is not excreted from the body. First of all, being quickly absorbed into the blood and penetrating into all organs, ethyl alcohol causes disturbances in the central nervous system. If we exceed the norm, then there are failures in the emotional sphere, perception of the world around us, problems with hearing, vision and orientation in space. At first, a person becomes talkative and sociable, then he can become aggressive. We all know this well.

If you use ethyl alcohol in excess of the norm, then signs of poisoning may appear - vomiting, confusion, fainting, blue skin and hypothermia. Respiratory functions may be impaired, blood glucose levels may drop, liver damage and dehydration may occur ... But this is not the worst thing. Ethyl alcohol poisoning can cause seizures, which will lead to the death of brain neurons and dementia. As a result of alcohol intoxication, death can also occur - this is not such a rarity ...

Prolonged use of ethanol leads to cirrhosis of the liver, the development of cardiovascular diseases and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. It has also been proven that the main metabolite of ethanol, acetaldehyde, has carcinogenic properties and causes DNA mutations.

By the way, for reference - if you drink "at one time" 400 grams of undiluted ethyl alcohol, then death will occur in 30-50% of cases.



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