Question

Grain alcohol is common name of:
A. Amyl alcohol
B. Ethyl alcohol
C. Methanol
D. None of these

Answer 1

Hint: The liquid alcohol which is formed from a source where grain is used as a feedstock is called grain alcohol. The alcohol which is produced from grain contains two carbon atoms.

Complete step by step answer:
Ethanol or ethyl alcohol is a liquid alcohol prepared from grain by fermentation process. Ethanol is used as an alternative fuel. The production of ethanol depends on the feedstock used, it may be starch, sugar or cellulose which on fermentation with the help of yeast or other microorganism yields ethanol and other impurities.
There are technically two methods employed for the production of ethanol from the grain. One is wet milling method and other is dry milling method.
In the dry-milling method, ethanol, distillers grains and carbon dioxide is formed. The carbon dioxide is the byproduct formed from the fermentation process. The distillers grains which are formed along with the solubles is used as protein livestock feed supplement which is obtained from the dehydration process and distillation.
In wet milling methods more valuable by products are formed than the dry-milling method. In the wet milling process where corn is used as a feedstock then the product formed is ethanol, corn starch, corn oil, corn germ meal etc.
Thus, grain alcohol is commonly known as ethyl alcohol.

So, the correct answer is Option B.

Note: Methanol is also alcohol which is commonly known as wood alcohol. It is formed by the hydrogenation reaction of carbon monoxide. Ethanol is used in beverages like beer, wine but methanol cannot be used for consumption.