Ethanol

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/ethanol

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical formula?CH3CH2OH. This formula precisely defines its molecular composition
2. What is the primary production pathways?Biological fermentation of sugars by microorganisms and petrochemical synthesis via ethylene hydration
3. What is ethanol and where can we find it?Ethanol is a liquid called ethyl alcohol. It can be found in drinks, fuels, and even in space.
4. How is ethanol made by nature?Yeasts and some bacteria turn sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide during a process called fermentation. This happens in overripe fruit, palm blossoms, and when plants grow without oxygen.

Hydroxyl Group: A functional group consisting of a hydrogen atom bonded to an oxygen atom (-OH).
Olefin: An unsaturated hydrocarbon containing at least one carbon-carbon double bond, like ethylene.
Chemical Feedstock: A raw material used in the production of other chemicals.
Auto-brewery Syndrome: A rare medical condition where ingested carbohydrates ferment internally, producing alcohol.