What is the specific gravity of ethanol?

Ethanol, which is also known as ethyl alcohol, has a specific gravity of approximately 0.79. Specific gravity is a measure of the density of a substance compared to the density of water. Since water has a specific gravity of 1.00, a specific gravity of 0.79 indicates that ethanol is lighter than water. This property of ethanol makes it useful in various applications, including as a fuel and in alcoholic beverages. Understanding the specific gravity of ethanol is important, particularly in contexts such as firefighting and chemical handling, where knowledge of different substances and their behaviors can influence safety protocols and operational procedures.