1) Ethanol is used as a solvent for many organic materials.
2) 100% pure ethyl alcohol is called absolute alcohol. 95.5% aqueous solution of ethyl alcohol is called rectified spirit. Rectified spirit is used in the manufacture of tincture ether chloroform dyes aromatic substances and many other substances. Absolute alcohol and rectified spirit are also used as surrogates in the laboratory. The fluid obtained by mixing methanol coatchoucine, peridin or any other toxic substance in rectified spirit is called denatured spirit.
3) Since rectified spirit can be used for drinking as a narcotic, denatured spirit is used as much as possible in place of rectified spirit in laboratory and industries to prevent its misuse.
4) Ethanol or rectified spirit is also used to make power alcohol. Power alcohol contains about 20 – 25% ethyl alcohol, 70 – 75% petrol, ether, tetralin etc. It can be used as a fuel in place of patrol in the engine.
5) It is also used in preservation of biological specimens.
6) Ethyl alcohol is also used for drinking as a narcotic. The drugs in which ethyl alcohol is present are of two types – (i) spirit (ii) wine.
7) If the alcoholic beverage is distilled, it is called spirit. If the alcoholic beverage is undispilled, it is called alcohol. Alcoholic beverages mainly contain 3 to 40% ethyl alcohol and the remaining water. Proof spirit contains 49.3% ethyl alcohol by weight. x° proof spirit has x% proof spirit.