# Making alcohol

Fermentation is a reaction which breaks down glucose obtained from fruit and vegetable sources to form the alcohol ethanol and carbon dioxide.

An enzyme in yeast acts as a catalyst for the reaction.

$Glucose \to ethanol + carbon\,dioxide$

${C_6}{H_{12}}{O_6} \to 2{C_2}{H_5}OH + 2C{O_2}$

There is a limit to the alcohol content of fermented drinks of about 12 per cent. This is because alcohol is toxic and it kills the living organism yeast, before too long.

Depending on the concentration of alcohol required, fermentation only or fermentation followed by distillation may be used.

Alcoholic drinks known as spirits have higher concentrations of alcohol. These include whisky and vodka and are produced by a process called distillation which separates out the alcohol that has been produced.

Raw MaterialProduct%Method
BarleyBeer4 - 5Fermentation
BarleyWhisky40Fermentation then distillation
PotatoVodka40Fermentation then distillation
Sugar CaneRum40Fermentation then distillation
GrapeWine12Fermentation
GrapeBrandy40Fermentation then distillation

The alcoholic content of drinks is measured in units. Some different unit contents are shown in the table below.

Alcoholic drinkUnits
Pint of beer2
Measure of whisky1
Bottle of alcopop2
Glass of wine1

## Plants to products

Our bodies perform many chemical reactions in everyday life which keep us healthy. Medicines contain drugs (substances that affect the body) that can help the body when it is not working correctly. Antibiotics are drugs that fight micro-organisms present in our bodies that cause illness and prevent our bodies from working properly. Many medicines that we use including aspirin have been produced from chemicals found in nature. Plants produce useful chemicals that chemists can analyse and improve upon.

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