Utshwala buyinhlanganisela yamakhemikhali enefomula ethi C2H5OH.Iwuketshezi olungenambala, oluvuthayo oluvame ukusetshenziswa njengesincibilikisi, isibaseli, nezinto zokuzilibazisa.Ikhiqizwa ngokuvutshelwa kukashukela ngemvubelo futhi ingatholakala eziphuzweni ezihlukahlukene ezinjengobhiya, iwayini, nespirit.Nakuba ukuphuza utshwala ngokusesilinganisweni kungaba nezinzuzo ezithile zezempilo, ukuphuza ngokweqile kungaholela ekubeni umlutha, ukulimala kwesibindi, nezinye izinkinga zempilo.