2007-03-19 07:47:58 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment
Moonshine is illicitly distilled or smuggled alcoholic liquor. Ethanol is the name used in chemistry for one type of alcohol (others being methanol, etc.).
Ethanol by its very chemical nature is 100% alcohol. Moonshine would have other constituents resulting in a reduced amount of ethanol alcohol.
However due to the illicit and unregulated (criminal) nature of moonshine it is frequently very dangerous. The number of old timers in the mountains making this stuff for their own consumption is now dwarfed in comparison to criminal gangs industrially making what is basically poison. Cases abound in Russia for example of "moonshine" vodka (samogon) which contains methanol (cheaper alcohol than ethanol, but which can kill humans) or in a most recent case (exposed last week on BBC website) medical disinfectant. The disinfectant part added to make the vodka cheaper (and more flavoursome?) kills (a disinfectants very purpose). In one town alone (Pskov), the authorities have tracked more than 1,000 poisonings with 120 dead so far. Across Russia as a whole, officials have not counted, but some estimate 10,000 poison cases and 1,000 dead. If you ask me the worst part is how long it is taking these poor people to die. In some cases up to a year.
Anybody for a drink? I got this great stuff here, only 80c a bottle!
2007-03-19 08:41:47 · answer #1 · answered by resolution 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ethanol is a pure chemical. It is the alcohol in all alcoholic drinks from beer to vodka.
Moonshine is a home fermented brew of unknown ingredients. The fermentation produces a solution which contains among other things, ethananol.
The very worst moonshines can contain methanol which is poisonous for humans and can cause blindness.
2007-03-19 15:12:09 · answer #2 · answered by ignoramus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The alcohol is the same. Moonshine is too often made in badly constructed stills that put lead and other heavy metals into the highly concentracted alcohol stream. The exact concentration of ethanol in moonshine can vary considerably depending the heat used in distilling off the alcohol and how much water is carried over.
2007-03-19 14:56:20 · answer #3 · answered by Mike1942f 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Moonshine is made by yeast fermenting a sugar source to produce ethanol and then separating the alcohol from the fermenting mixture (the mash) through distillation using a still.
2007-03-19 14:57:27 · answer #4 · answered by Village Player 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ethanol or grain alcohol ( C2H6O) is the prime ingredient of all alcoholic beverages.
Moonshine is a slang term for homemade alcoholic brew, particularly if it's made illegally. Moonshine can be dangerous, as various impurities (such as glycols or methanol) can make the drink poisonous. As a result of it's manufacture and toxic effects, it's also been known as 'rotgut'.
2007-03-19 14:58:41 · answer #5 · answered by swilliamrex 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Moonshine might poison you. Ethanol will poison you because of the stuff put in it to make it work better as engine fuel.
2007-03-19 15:27:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Moonshine is just unrefined ethanol.
2007-03-19 14:53:02 · answer #7 · answered by Alex 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Moonshine has "special ingredients" known only to the maker.
2007-03-19 14:55:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
moonshine is for drinking
ethanol will kill you faster
2007-03-19 14:58:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dam*n* Little!
2007-03-19 14:57:37 · answer #10 · answered by kj 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋