Alcohol1 The Most Commonly Used Depressant in the World

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Alcohol: The Most Commonly Used Depressant in the World It is the second most used drug People believed that the most harmful drugs would be the most restricted by law; but this is not true; alcohol is the second most harmful drug but it is widely accessible. This was researched by David Nutt Ethanol is our drinking alcohol Isopropanol = rubbing alcohol; it is extremely potent Methanol = wood alcohol (also used in anti-freeze) When your body breaks down methanol, it turns into a metabolite called formaldehyde which is extremely carcinogenic Labeling Alcohol Content Percentage alcohol (ABV) Alcohol by volume Proof of alcohol (40 ABV is 80 “proof”) To make sure no alcohol was stolen, people will light alcohol on fire; if it is 57% proof or over, it will light on fire So if a beverage is 100 proof, it is 50% Production of Alcoholic Beverages Fermentation Process where yeast consumes sugars, and it will produce alcohol as a byproduct The yeast works best in low oxygen environments However, there is a limit to how much you can ferment, and it will not exceed over 15%, this is why fermented beverages will not go over that Distillation You take the fermented product and heat it up B...