Ethanol Molecule
VR MATHS 2.0 BLOG-Yerong Yang
Atoms are the fundamental units and building blocks of matter. The periodic table lists the currently discovered pure elements that are used to form other substances. Along with these stable elements, there are a variety of other atoms and molecule types that are built and bonded together to form new compounds. The substance ethanol consists of molecules that a joint to form this chemical drug. Ethanol molecules are formed from different types of elements and share different bonds to form their molecular state. This blog displays the completed 3D theoretical model of the chlorine atom based on the current information that's up to date on this known molecule. The blog will explore the properties and different aspects of ethanol as well as the development of the model on the program VRmaths 2.0.
Ethanol is a substance that is used for many purposes, varying from drugs to fuels. This substance is commonly known as alcohol and is labeled as one of the principal alcohols in all alcoholic beverages. It is a colourless liquid that is produced through the fermentation of specific carbohydrates and is widely used for disinfectant, solvent and preservative purposes. Many day to day basis products contain ethanol in them e.g. Perfume and ethanol can even treat poisoning e.g. Antidote for methanol poisoning.
Composed from carbon, hydrogen and oxygen connected via several different bonds, ethanol is a complex structure with a molar mass of 47.06 g/mol. The atoms of ethanol are sub divide into three groups known as methyl, methylene and hydroxyl. Covalent bonds link non-metallic elements on the periodic table together which makes the connections between the ethanol atoms lie under this category. This is the result of all atoms in ethanol being a non-metallic and gas state. The methyl group consists of one carbon atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms (CH3-) amongst the other in the ethanol. A methyl group is usually a compound of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms bonded together and is known as an alkyl. This group was formed from methane however, it consists of one less hydrogen atom which makes it an alkyl. An alkyl is similar to that of a methyl group in which it is missing a hydrogen atom. Methylene on the other hand, is a composition of two hydrogen atoms bounded with one carbon atom which are then connected to the molecule via a double bond. The third and final group in this molecule is the hydroxyl group. This group of atoms is the key factor to ethanol being alcoholic and it consists of one oxygen bonded to one hydrogen atom. Electronegativity in the oxygen atom of the hydroxyl group causes it to polarise the hydroxyl group and this is the reason behind the use of entangled in chemistry as a polar solvent. These three groups summarise the different classifications of atoms in an ethanol molecule.
The chemical/molecular formula for ethanol is CH3-CH2-OH. It has a total of nine atoms with oxygen being one, hydrogen being six and carbon being two. Ethanol is a flammable liquid that has a boiling temperature of 78.37 degrees Celsius and a melting point of -114 degrees Celsius. At room temperature ethanol takes a liquid form and releases a distinct odour.
Questions that I still have yet to find the answer to include the histories behind the discovery and the first initial use of ethanol. The topic was touched briefly on these sources however, the subject wasn't expanded on. Another question that I haven't investigated yet is the chemical reaction that ethanol has with other substances and how the reaction works when ethanol and heat combine.
Links:
http://www.ch.ic.ac.uk/rzepa/mim/environmental/html/ethanol.htm
http://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-ethanol-formula-structure-uses.html
http://www.essentialchemicalindustry.org/chemicals/ethanol.html
http://www.scifun.org/chemweek/pdf/ethanol.pdf
http://www.easychem.com.au/production-of-materials/renewable-ethanol/ethanol-as-a-solvent
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/podcast/CIIEcompounds/transcripts/ethanol.asp
The construction of the 3D model on the VRmaths program proved to be somewhat sophisticated and tedious to deal with. The different commands that can be applied to the program are difficult to control however, once the concept is understandable, the application and construction of the model proves only to be time consuming. One of the many techniques that I learnt whilst using the program was use of a cursor and placing objects in different areas of the grid. At times, the commands can be confusing when "tilt" isn't the same as turning or forward isn't the same more north or east. Navigation of the program was also another complication that I encountered while engaging with the program as all selections and commands on the program were small icons and pictures that don't necessarily display any instructions on what their purposes are. Interesting ideas that I discovered during the working of this task, my knowledge of ethanol and the properties that surrounded the substance widened and one of the most interesting aspects are different bonds that connect the atoms in the compound of ethanol. Some ideas that I discovered on my journey on VRmaths was complex range of possibilities that can achieved through the use of VRmaths. The program also allows for your work to be displayed publicly.
Links to VRmaths logo creator and editor program
