Ethanol, molecular model. Also known as ethyl alcohol, this chemical is the alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. In the drinks industry, it is produced by the fermentation of sugar by yeast. In industry, it is used as a fuel and solvent. As an alcohol, it consists of a hydroxide group (an oxygen and an hydrogen atom) on a hydrocarbon chain. This model shows the atoms (spheres) connected by bonds (rods). The atoms are colour-coded: carbon (black), oxygen (red), and hydrogen (white).