What is the freezing point of alcohol?

In accordance with the general definition, the freezing point is the temperature of the transition of the substance from the liquid state to the solid state. This characteristic depends on what substance is cooled (composition) and at what pressure, because The higher the pressure, the higher the freezing point. The most famous substance, which is most often transferred from the liquid state to the solid state and vice versa, is water. It is known that ordinary water becomes ice at zero degrees Celsius, but ultrapure H ₂ O in a clean vessel can be liquid and in severe frost, as well as a sea containing many salts.

Other liquids have different levels of this characteristic. For example, the freezing point of alcohol is much lower than the same value for ordinary water. This is due to the fact that this substance has a lower density.

In total there are several groups of alcohols, each of which has its physical and chemical properties. Today, the following classes are distinguished:

- depending on the number of hydroxyl groups (from monohydric to polyhydric alcohols) ;

- depending on how saturated the hydrocarbon substituent (unsaturated, limiting, aromatic);

- Depending on the cyclicity in the hydrocarbon substituent (alicyclic, cyclic);

- by the number of substituents of the alpha-carbon atom (primary - tertiary).

For example, the freezing temperature of methanol alcohol, related to monohydric, is minus 97 degrees Celsius, and cyclohexanol is about minus 42 degrees C. However, most often search engines include a query regarding the properties of the liquid that is part of alcoholic beverages. The freezing point of ethanol (ethanol) is minus 114 degrees Celsius. This property is used in everyday life to isolate the alcoholic component from alcohol-containing beverages in order to "increase the degree", as well as for making the winter "ice-free" for cars. Some ethanol motorists are added to summer-type washers or mixed with water in certain proportions.

It should be noted that not all liquids of this class are converted to a solid state only with very strong cooling. For example, the freezing point of alcohol phenylcarbinol (benzyl aromatic alcohol) is minus 15 ^o C.

If you ever get interested in the classification of thermometers, you can find out that there are thermometers that work on an alcohol basis. Those. Instead of an electronic mechanism or mercury in the device contains alcohol. Such thermometers are most often used where low temperatures in domestic conditions need to be measured. For example, in Siberia, where frosts are often up to 50-60 degrees. Here ordinary thermometers will not be able to work correctly, because the freezing temperature of mercury is about minus 38 ° C. You can find out what kind of thermometer you have, by the color of the column in the thermometer. If it is silvery, then inside it is mercury. But the red bar indicates a tinted alcohol solution. Such thermometers are often used to measure external temperatures. Even if the street is -45 ° C, the device will not let you down, because The freezing point of alcohol is much lower.