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Organic chemistryFoundationalcoholsuses

AQA GCSE · Question 09.4 · Organic chemistry

Suggest one use of methylated spirit.

How to approach this question

Think about the properties of ethanol. It is a liquid that burns easily and can dissolve many substances. What could a product like this be used for?

Full Answer

As a fuel / As a solvent
Methylated spirit is primarily ethanol, which has two main properties that make it useful: 1. **It is flammable:** It burns with a clean, hot flame, making it an excellent **fuel** for small stoves (like camping stoves or fondue burners) and spirit lamps in laboratories. 2. **It is a good solvent:** It can dissolve many substances that water cannot, such as oils, resins, and some plastics. This makes it useful as a **solvent** for cleaning surfaces, thinning paints, and in various industrial processes.

Common mistakes

✗ Suggesting it is used as a drink. ✗ Giving a very specific, obscure use.

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