with 20–30% alcohol, and the second 50–
70%.
The structures of several different alcohols.
Methanol is a poison because our bodies
convert it into formic acid, which accumulates
and damages the eyes and brain. Ethanol is
the main alcohol produced by yeasts. Butyl
and amyl alcohols are two of the “higher,” or
longer-chain alcohols. When concentrated by
distillation, they contribute an oily
consistency to spirits thanks to their fat-like
hydrocarbon tails.
Continuous Distillation: Selecting Volatiles
by Position The second way in which
distillers can separate the desirable volatiles
from the rest is by their position in a column