Alcohol
noun
In common speech, alcohol refers to the intoxicant ethanol found in liquors, wines and beers. It is a natural chemical that is produced during the fermentation process of fruits and grains and has been around in many cultures for thousands of years. The chemical formula is C2H5OH and the medical field typically abbreviates it EtOH.
In moderation, alcohol has few to no health effects for most people. When too much is consumed at one time, drunkenness occurs, which can have both social and medical risks. Over time, a heavy drinker may experience a variety of health problems including but not limited to addiction, liver disease and incontinence.
Chemically, the word alcohol refers to a group of chemicals, some natural and some synthetic, that all carry a hydroxyl group which is a specific association of oxygen and hydrogen. Most alcohols are soluble in water, and common ones are ethanol (also called ethyl alcohol) and isopropanol (also called isopropyl alcohol and rubbing alcohol).
The word comes from Arabic descent.
|
