Why is ethyl alcohol flammable?

1 Answer
Mar 23, 2018

Because it is unstable with respect to oxidation....

Explanation:

...and the formation of STABLE carbon dioxide, and STABLE water provide a thermodynamic driving force to the reaction...

#H_3stackrel(""^(-)III)C-stackrel(""^(-)I)CH_2OH(l) +3O_2(g)rarr2stackrel(""^+IV)CO_2(g) + 3H_2O(l)#

#DeltaH_"combustion of ethyl alcohol"^@=-1371*kJ*mol^-1#

On the other hand, ethane combusts according to ....

#H_3stackrel(""^(-)III)C-CH_3 +7/2O_2 rarr 2CO_2(g) + 3H_2O#

#DeltaH_"combustion of ethane"^@=-1560*kJ*mol^-1#..because we can make more #C=O# bonds here from the parent ethane, the reaction is a little more energetic....