Record Information
Version1.0
StatusDetected and Quantified
Creation Date2020-10-27 23:27:44 UTC
Update Date2024-09-27 21:13:34 UTC
Metabolite IDMMDBc0000028
Metabolite Identification
Common NameEthanol
DescriptionEthanol is a clear, colorless liquid rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and distributed throughout the body. It has bactericidal activity and is used often as a topical disinfectant. It is widely used as a solvent and preservative in pharmaceutical preparations as well as serving as the primary ingredient in alcoholic beverages. Indeed, ethanol has widespread use as a solvent of substances intended for human contact or consumption, including scents, flavorings, colorings, and medicines. Ethanol has a depressive effect on the central nervous system and because of its psychoactive effects, it is considered a drug. Ethanol has a complex mode of action and affects multiple systems in the brain, most notably it acts as an agonist to the GABA receptors. Death from ethanol consumption is possible when blood alcohol level reaches 0.4%. A blood level of 0.5% or more is commonly fatal. Levels of even less than 0.1% can cause intoxication, with unconsciousness often occurring at 0.3-0.4 %. Ethanol is metabolized by the body as an energy-providing carbohydrate nutrient, as it metabolizes into acetyl CoA, an intermediate common with glucose metabolism, that can be used for energy in the citric acid cycle or for biosynthesis. Ethanol within the human body is converted into acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase and then into acetic acid by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. The product of the first step of this breakdown, acetaldehyde, is more toxic than ethanol. Acetaldehyde is linked to most of the clinical effects of alcohol. It has been shown to increase the risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver,[77] multiple forms of cancer, and alcoholism. Industrially, ethanol is produced both as a petrochemical, through the hydration of ethylene, and biologically, by fermenting sugars with yeast. Small amounts of ethanol are endogenously produced by gut microflora through anaerobic fermentation. However most ethanol detected in biofluids and tissues likely comes from consumption of alcoholic beverages. Absolute ethanol or anhydrous alcohol generally refers to purified ethanol, containing no more than one percent water. Absolute alcohol is not intended for human consumption. It often contains trace amounts of toxic benzene (used to remove water by azeotropic distillation). Consumption of this form of ethanol can be fatal over a short time period. Generally absolute or pure ethanol is used as a solvent for lab and industrial settings where water will disrupt a desired reaction. Pure ethanol is classed as 200 proof in the USA and Canada, equivalent to 175 degrees proof in the UK system. Ethanol is a general biomarker for the consumption of alcohol. Ethanol is also a metabolite of Hansenula and Saccharomyces (PMID: 14613880 ) (https://ac.els-cdn.com/S0079635206800470/1-s2.0-S0079635206800470-main.pdf?_tid=4d340044-3230-4141-88dd-deec4d2e35bd&acdnat=1550288012_0c4a20fe963843426147979d376cf624).
Structure
Synonyms
ValueSource
1-HydroxyethaneChEBI
[CH2Me(OH)]ChEBI
[OEtH]ChEBI
AlcoholChEBI
Alcohol etilicoChEBI
Alcool ethyliqueChEBI
AlkoholChEBI
AethanolChEBI
AethylalkoholChEBI
C2H5OHChEBI
Dehydrated ethanolChEBI
EtanolChEBI
Ethyl alcoholChEBI
EtOHChEBI
HydroxyethaneChEBI
MethylcarbinolChEBI
Spiritus viniChEBI
Anhydrous ethanolKegg
Absolute alcoholHMDB
Absolute ethanolHMDB
Absolute ethyl alcoholHMDB
Alcare hand degermerHMDB
AlcoholsHMDB
Alcool etilicoHMDB
AlgrainHMDB
Alkoholu etylowegoHMDB
AnhydrolHMDB
Anhydrous alcoholHMDB
Cologne spiritHMDB
Cologne spiritsHMDB
Dehydrated alcoholHMDB
Denatured alcoholHMDB
Denatured ethanolHMDB
Desinfektol elHMDB
Diluted alcoholHMDB
Distilled spiritsHMDB
Ethanol 200 proofHMDB
Ethanol solutionHMDB
EthicapHMDB
Ethyl alcHMDB
Ethyl alcohol anhydrousHMDB
Ethyl alcohol in alcoholic beveragesHMDB
Ethyl alcohol uspHMDB
Ethyl hydrateHMDB
Ethyl hydroxideHMDB
Fermentation alcoholHMDB
Grain alcoholHMDB
HinetolessHMDB
Infinity pureHMDB
JaysolHMDB
Jaysol SHMDB
LuxHMDB
Molasses alcoholHMDB
Potato alcoholHMDB
Punctilious ethyl alcoholHMDB
PyroHMDB
Silent spiritHMDB
SpiritHMDB
Spirits OF wineHMDB
SpirtHMDB
SynasolHMDB
TecsolHMDB
Tecsol CHMDB
ThanolHMDB
Undenatured ethanolHMDB
Alcohol, absoluteHMDB
Alcohol, ethylHMDB
Alcohol, grainHMDB
Molecular FormulaC2H6O
Average Mass46.0684
Monoisotopic Mass46.041864814
IUPAC Nameethanol
Traditional Nameethyl alcohol
CAS Registry Number64-17-5
SMILES
CCO
InChI Identifier
InChI=1S/C2H6O/c1-2-3/h3H,2H2,1H3
InChI KeyLFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N