Ethers, another class, are made by the dehydration of alcohols. Two other classes, aldehydes and ketones, are formed by the oxidation of alcohols.

It can be obtained by eating the grapes or drinking red grape juice.Įthanol and resveratrol, a phenol, are representatives of two of the families of oxygen-containing compounds that we consider in this chapter. One need not drink wine to get the benefits of resveratrol, however. It inhibits the oxidation of cholesterol and subsequent clogging of the arteries. Resveratrol, found in red grapes, is an antioxidant. In addition to the possible benefits of modest amounts of ethanol, a chemical in red wines, resveratrol, is thought to lower the risk of heart disease. In small quantities-one or two drinks a day-ethanol might promote health. Heavy drinking shortens a person’s life span by contributing to diseases of the liver, the cardiovascular system, and virtually every other organ of the body. Alcoholism-an addiction to ethanol-is the most serious drug problem in the United States. In excess-four or more drinks in a few hours-it causes intoxication, which is characterized by a loss of coordination, nausea and vomiting, and memory blackouts.Įxcessive ingestion of ethanol over a long period of time leads to cirrhosis of the liver, alteration of brain cell function, nerve damage, and strong physiological addiction. If ethanol is diluted, as it is in wine, beer, or mixed drinks with about 1 oz of liquor, and if it is consumed in small quantities, it is relatively safe. As the intoxicant in alcoholic beverages, ethanol is often simply called alcohol. One of the more familiar chemical compounds on Earth is ethyl alcohol (ethanol).

Ether functional group