Fusel alcohol
Fusel Alcohol
Fusel alcohol (pronunciation: /ˈfjuːzəl/), also known as fusel oil, is a mixture of several alcohols (chiefly amyl alcohol) produced as a by-product of alcoholic fermentation.
Etymology
The term "fusel" is derived from the German word "fusel", meaning "bad liquor".
Description
Fusel alcohols are a byproduct of the fermentation process. They are higher alcohols than ethanol, with three or more carbon atoms. The primary fusel alcohols found in alcoholic beverages are amyl alcohol, isobutyl alcohol, propanol, butanol, and methylbutanol.
Fusel alcohols are found in small quantities in most fermented beverages, but they are undesirable in large amounts. They can contribute to the "hot" or "spicy" taste of alcoholic beverages, and in large quantities, they can cause unpleasant physical effects such as headaches and nausea.
Related Terms
- Alcohol: A chemical compound that is a simple organic compound, with a hydroxyl (–OH) functional group attached to a carbon atom.
- Alcoholic fermentation: The process by which yeast converts sugars into alcohol and carbon dioxide.
- Amyl alcohol: An organic compound with the formula C5H12O, it is one of the components of fusel alcohol.
- Isobutyl alcohol: A primary alcohol and an isomer of butanol, found in fusel alcohol.
- Propanol: A primary alcohol with the formula CH3CH2CH2OH, also found in fusel alcohol.
- Butanol: An alcohol that is a four carbon structure with the OH group at an end carbon, found in fusel alcohol.
- Methylbutanol: An alcohol that is a five carbon structure with the OH group at an end carbon, found in fusel alcohol.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Fusel alcohol
- Wikipedia's article - Fusel alcohol
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