[TheForge] alcohol

[Bruce Freeman]

Well, yes and know.  As a chemist I cringe at the
wordk "bonds" used in this way.  (Bonding in chemistry
means that two pieces join to form one - like two
atoms to form a diatomic molecule, or two molecules
joining to form a larger molecule.  That's not what's
happening here.)

Once I get past that, the description with respect to
fuel, water and alcohol is not far off.  Alcohol is
solvent of intermediate polarity to water and fuel
(which normally don't mix well), and causes them to
mix.  This can be good.  But chill the mixture and
freezing up can still take place.  I believe the
water-fuel mixture (with or without alcohol) is called
a hydride, and can freeze out as an ice-like solid. 
(This is not my field of expertise.)

However, I'm not sure that any of this relates to
alcohol in the body.  As I understand it, alcoholic
beverages dehydate you.  I know from my own experience
that hangover can often be avoided by drinking water
along with alcohol - even with beer.

This is not gospel.  Take from it what you will.

Bruce
NJ

John Husvar wrote:

>'S funny. So long as I don't mix types of beverages,
I very rarely get 
hung
>over. Of course, I don't drink all that much anyway.
Good point 
though.
>The water helps moderate the alcohol dehydrating one
and that takes 
care of
>half of a hangover anytime. Alcohol seems to dry one
out quite a bit.
>  
>
The alchohol bonds with the water in your body.   At
least I think it 
does.  In airplanes, ethanol fuels are unpopular
because the alchohol 
in 
the fuel binds with water, rather than sinking to the
bottom of the 
tank 
where it is readily drained.  At altitude it can cause
icing issues.   
I 
seem to recall we have a chemist on this list. 

Charles


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