Ethanol as a fuel question (1 Viewer)

[Study_like_a_nerd]

SO ethanol has a low boiling point of approximately 78C. This makes it volatile and reduces its suitability as a fuel --> but why does it being volatile effect its potential as a fuel?

 

[Silly Sausage]

It is soluble in water and is volatile, so it can be carried quite long distances.
Ethanol will oxidise quickly (less than a few days), with carbon dioxide and water as the final products. However, ethanol can act as a precursor, leading to the formation of photochemical smog. Water or snow can wash the ethanol out of the atmosphere, but due to its volatility, ethanol will quickly re-enter the vapour phase. Ethanol present in soil or water will decompose in the presence of oxygen. Ethanol is a good nutrient and energy source for microbes. In the absence of oxygen, this can lead to the formation of methane.

Source: http://www.npi.gov.au/resource/ethanol-ethyl-alcohol