Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine01:27

CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine

1.4K
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
1.4K
Preparation of Alcohols via Addition Reactions02:15

Preparation of Alcohols via Addition Reactions

7.9K
Overview
The acid-catalyzed addition of water to the double bond of alkenes is a large-scale industrial method used to synthesize low-molecular-weight alcohols. An acidic atmosphere is required to allow the hydrogen in the water molecule to act as an electrophile and attack the double bond in an alkene. The addition of a proton to the double bond creates a carbocation intermediate. The proton preferentially bonds to the less substituted end of the double bond to create a more stable carbocation...
7.9K
Depressants01:28

Depressants

488
Depressant drugs, including alcohol and sedative-hypnotics, diminish central nervous system activity by enhancing the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter that reduces brain activity and promotes relaxation. These substances can have various therapeutic uses but also pose significant risks, especially when misused or combined.
Alcohol is a common depressant that can induce a sense of relaxation and reduced inhibition at low doses. Contrary to its occasional...
488
Acidity and Basicity of Alcohols and Phenols02:36

Acidity and Basicity of Alcohols and Phenols

22.3K
Like water, alcohols are weak acids and bases. This is attributed to the polarization of the O–H bond making the hydrogen partially positive. Moreover, the electron pairs on the oxygen atom of alcohol make it both basic and nucleophilic. Protonation of an alcohol converts hydroxide, a poor leaving group, into water—a good one. The two acid–base equilibria corresponding to ethanol are depicted below.
22.3K
Role of Water in Human Biology01:27

Role of Water in Human Biology

14.5K
Water is the one of the most significant components of the human body; it plays a crucial role in several physiological activities because of its unique physicochemical properties. Importantly, it helps to regulate body temperature and is the chief component of several body fluids.
Water's Solvent Properties
Since water is a polar molecule with slightly positive and slightly negative charges, ions and polar molecules can readily dissolve in it. Therefore, it is referred to as a solvent, a...
14.5K
Aldehydes and Ketones with Alcohols: Hemiacetal Formation01:19

Aldehydes and Ketones with Alcohols: Hemiacetal Formation

10.0K
Similar to water, alcohols can add to the carbonyl carbon of the aldehydes and ketones. The addition of one molecule of alcohol to the carbonyl compound forms the hemiacetal or half acetal. As depicted below, in a hemiacetal, the carbon is directly linked to an OH and OR group.
10.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

[36] Reactions with N-ethylmaleimide and p-mercuribenzoate.

Methods in enzymology·2012
Same author

[41] acetylation.

Methods in enzymology·2012
Same author

[42] o-acetyltyrosine.

Methods in enzymology·2012
Same author

[44] Nitration with tetranitromethane.

Methods in enzymology·2012
Same author

[45] Diazonium salts as specific reagents and probes of protein conformation.

Methods in enzymology·2012
Same author

Scleredema: a systemic disease.

The New England journal of medicine·2010

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 19, 2026

Modeling Alcohol Consumption in Rodents Using Two-Bottle Choice Home Cage Drinking and Microstructural Analysis
08:45

Modeling Alcohol Consumption in Rodents Using Two-Bottle Choice Home Cage Drinking and Microstructural Analysis

Published on: November 8, 2024

1.4K

Alcohol in human history

B L Vallee1

  • 1Center for Biochemical and Biophysical Sciences and Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.

EXS
|January 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary

Ethanol, or alcohol, has been central to human development, serving as a primary beverage, dietary calorie source, and influencing societal changes like the Reformation and Prohibition. Its historical impact spans from ancient practices to modern considerations of water purification and nonalcoholic alternatives.

Area of Science:

  • History of Human Development
  • Biochemistry
  • Sociology

Background:

  • Ethanol (alcohol) has historically served as a primary human beverage, often replacing water.
  • Alcohol has been a significant component of the human diet, providing a source of calories.

Observation:

  • The development of distillation allowed for the concentration of alcohol.
  • Societal shifts, including the Reformation and movements like Temperance and Prohibition, were influenced by alcohol consumption.
  • The rise of potable nonalcoholic beverages such as coffee and tea emerged alongside water purification advancements.

Findings:

  • Ethanol's multifaceted role in human history includes its use as a beverage, a caloric food source, and a catalyst for social and technological developments.
  • Historical analysis reveals a complex interplay between alcohol, societal norms, and the evolution of beverage consumption patterns.

More Related Videos

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
05:12

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

1.6K
Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice
07:31

Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice

Published on: January 7, 2019

8.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 19, 2026

Modeling Alcohol Consumption in Rodents Using Two-Bottle Choice Home Cage Drinking and Microstructural Analysis
08:45

Modeling Alcohol Consumption in Rodents Using Two-Bottle Choice Home Cage Drinking and Microstructural Analysis

Published on: November 8, 2024

1.4K
Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder
05:12

Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

Published on: June 23, 2023

1.6K
Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice
07:31

Murine Drinking Models in the Development of Pharmacotherapies for Alcoholism: Drinking in the Dark and Two-bottle Choice

Published on: January 7, 2019

8.7K

Implications:

  • Understanding ethanol's historical trajectory provides context for contemporary discussions on public health, nutrition, and beverage choices.
  • The study highlights the long-term impact of alcohol on human civilization, influencing diet, social structures, and technological innovation.