Ethanol trivia

Ethanol Mini Quiz

Test your knowledge with these top questions!

Question 1

Gasoline companies blend corn-derived ethanol into automobile fuel to achieve what goal?

Ethanol is an oxygenate, meaning it adds oxygen to gasoline. This allows the fuel to burn more completely, significantly reducing carbon monoxide emissions.

Question 2

Beverage ingredient ethanol acts primarily as what kind of drug in the human brain?

Ethanol is a central nervous system depressant that increases the effects of GABA, a neurotransmitter that slows down brain activity and impairs coordination.

Question 3

Hand sanitizers rely on high concentrations of ethanol to do what to bacterial cells?

Ethanol effectively kills bacteria by dissolving the lipid bilayer of their outer membranes and denaturing vital proteins, which causes the cells to rupture.

Question 4

Emergency doctors sometimes use pure ethanol as an IV antidote to treat what condition?

Ethanol competes for the same liver enzyme as ethylene glycol, the toxic ingredient in antifreeze. This prevents the poison from breaking down into deadly acids.