Explain the chemical makeup of beverage alcohol.

Alcohol is a colorless liquid that is created by fermentation. Fermentation is the chemical reaction that splits a molecule of sugar into equal parts of ethyl alcohol and carbon dioxide. The fermentation process is caused by yeast that may occur naturally in the liquid or may be added to the liquid by an alcoholic beverage maker. After fermentation, the carbon dioxide escapes into the air and the ethyl alcohol remains in the liquid. The result is an alcoholic beverage. The major types of alcoholic beverages are beer, wine, and spirits.