Ethanol Molecule in 3D: C₂H₅OH Structure and Facts
Ethanol is two carbon atoms with an OH group, the alcohol found in drinks. It is also used as a fuel, a solvent and in hand sanitiser. In Molecule Studio you can spin the ethanol molecule, zoom in on each atom and measure its bonds.
Explore in 3DEthanol quick facts
| Chemical formula | C₂H₅OH |
|---|---|
| Molar mass | 46.07 g/mol |
| Atoms in one molecule | 9 |
| Shape | Tetrahedral around each carbon |
| Group | Alcohols |
What is ethanol used for?
- Alcoholic drinks
- Hand sanitiser and disinfectant
- Fuel added to petrol
Interesting facts about ethanol
- Yeast makes ethanol by fermenting sugar.
- It mixes completely with water.
- It is added to petrol as a biofuel.
- Its OH group lets it form hydrogen bonds.
What you can do in 3D
Turn the molecule to see it from every side, switch between ball and stick, space filling and wire views, and tap atoms to measure bond lengths and angles.
More alcohols molecules
Ethanol questions
What is the formula of ethanol?
C2H5OH, also written C2H6O.
How is ethanol made?
By yeast fermenting sugars, or from ethylene in industry.
What is ethanol used for?
Drinks, hand sanitiser, solvents and as a fuel.
Is ethanol an alcohol?
Yes. It is the alcohol found in beer, wine and spirits.
Molecule Studio is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up. In the tool, molecules load from the built-in library or from PubChem.