An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

An → alcohol having molecular formula C₂H₅OH. It is a colorless inflammable liquid with a characteristic odor. Ethanol is produced by fermentation of sugar: C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2 C₂H₅OH + 2 CO₂. It is the active constituent of alcoholic beverages. It is used as a fuel and as a solvent in the extraction of specific substances. It is also known as → ethyl alcohol. Ethanol in the → interstellar medium was first detected
toward the → Sagittarius B2 molecular cloud at
82.265, 90.118, and 104.809 GHz (B. Zuckerman et al. 1975, ApJ 196, L99).

See also: Short for → ethyl alcohol.