Difference between Alcohol and Liquor
The word alcohol is a polysemic term. This means that it has two or more meanings. Alcohol, for example, is an organic chemical compound, however, this word is also used to refer to some alcoholic beverages without delving much into their differences or particularities. Similarly, the term liquor is used to refer to alcoholic beverages in general, that is, without specifying their names.
Alcohol |
Liqueur |
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|---|---|---|
| Definition | In chemistry, alcohol is an organic chemical compound characterized by having a hydroxyl group (-OH). This hydroxyl enters substituting for a hydrogen atom bonded to a carbon atom covalently. | As for the liquor, it is a distilled alcoholic beverage that can have a dry or sweet taste. This is made with a base of brandy, alcohol or ethyl alcohol infused with herbs, spices, fruits and even flowers and sugar. |
| Applications | This chemical compound has several possible uses. For example, alcohol is an excipient in medicines and cosmetic products. It is a great solvent and serves as an antifreeze. Also, alcohol is a popular disinfectant. Ethanol and methanol are very popular as an alternative to using fossil fuels. Alcohol is also part of alcoholic beverages, which are fit for human consumption. | The liquor is manufactured, almost always in artisanal or semi-artisanal ways, for human consumption. Liquors are usually drunk on their own, however, they can also be served as appetizers, dessert accompaniments and even in cocktails. There is a generalized use, as with the word ‘alcohol’, in which the term ‘liquor’ encompasses a series of alcoholic beverages without emphasizing their differences and others. |