Question

Why is ethyl alcohol flammable?

Answer 1

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....