Corn is the main thing that is used to create ethanol. However, other plants like switch grass grow on their own without cultivation and give more ethanol than does the equivalent amount of corn. Report Abuse
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Other Answers (4)
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Ethanol is ethyl alcohol, C2H5OH, produced from sugars and starches by fermentation in wine and beer and in mashes for distilled drinking alcohol. It is used as a fuel additive to reduce air pollution by reducing the flame temperature to reduce production of nitrogen oxides. It is unsuitable for sole use as a motor fuel in the United States because it requires as much energy to make as it provides. However, some crops produce sugar at a lower energy cost than is achievable in the US, and Brazil produces a large quantity of ethanol for use as a motor fuel.
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as others have explained, it is an alcohol. in the u.s., it is made from corn.
the problem with ethonal is making it is causing food prices to climb.
poor people can%26#039;t afford food.
another problem is ethonal is production.
it takes close to one unit of energy to produce one unit of energy (currently).
gasoline takes 1 unit to produce 5.
once it is made and in your car, you lose again.
there are less btu%26#039;s per gallon in ethonal than gasoline.
btu%26#039;s are the measurement of work.
you have to burn more ethonal to travel the same distance compared to gasoline. (approximently 10% less)
this means you have to buy more, and you pollute more, compared to gasoline. -
Ranjith sums it up nicely. The catch is! It still pollutes, and producing corn and sugar cane to make it does cause large scale destruction. It also push up food prices , farmers now produce bio fuels instead of food.
It is still researched and on the list of posible alternatives. -
ethanol,
is a flammable,colourless,slightly toxic %26amp; a chemical compound
for more information visit
www.wikipedia.com
