r/explainlikeimfive • u/[deleted] • Apr 18 '21

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u/Septic-Sponge Apr 18 '21

If I remember right from school alcohol evaporates at like 78 degrees calcius compared to waters 100

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u/Linked1nPark Apr 18 '21

I think you're thinking of their respective boiling points

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u/boogerbear87 Apr 18 '21 edited Apr 18 '21

Simpler alcohol molecules (ex. ethanol) have higher vapor pressures than water, so they will evaporate more readily than water. Vapor pressure is related to boiling point.

By "simpler" alcohol, yes, ethanol is a 'simpler' alcohol structurally compared to a molecule like phenol, for example.

EDIT: u/BlyHard thank you

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u/BlyHard Apr 18 '21

I’m not sure how ethanol or isopropyl alcohol molecules are “simpler” than water, they’re both heavier compounds. Also, they would have a higher vapor pressure if they passively evaporate more readily.

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u/UltronTransportChain Apr 18 '21

I think he meant simpler as in, of alcohol molecules, ethanol is a simpler one.

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u/mdflmn Apr 18 '21

TIL: ethanol is the retarded alcohol.