Ethyl alcohol , also known as ethanol, is a clear, colorless, volatile, and flammable liquid with the chemical formula C₂H₅OH. Ethanol, also commonly known as ethyl alcohol , is a colorless volatile liquid with the chemical formula C 2 H 5 OH. Its structure consists of a two-carbon chain (ethane) with one of the hydrogens replaced by a hydroxyl (OH) group, hence making it an alcohol . Learn about ethanol, a colorless and flammable liquid that is a type of alcohol and a common ingredient in alcoholic beverages. Find out how ethanol is made, what its properties and reactions are, and what its uses and effects are in daily life and industry. Learn the chemical formula and structural formula of ethanol, a simple alcohol found in alcoholic beverages and other products. Find out how ethanol is discovered, flammable, a solvent and more.