Q 01/05

Tests of which famous rocket were hampered by technicians stealing and drinking its ethanol fuel?

A) R-7

B) Saturn V

C) V-2

D) Titan II

Answer · why

C) V-2

V-2 fuel was a drinkable mix of ethanol and water. A pink dye added to deter thieves failed once crews learned to filter it out with potatoes.

Q 02/05

Sagittarius B2, a giant gas cloud containing ethanol, lies near the center of which galaxy?

A) Milky Way

B) Andromeda

C) Triangulum

D) Messier 87

Answer · why

A) Milky Way

The Milky Way keeps this cloud about 390 light-years from its center. Sagittarius B2 also holds the compound that flavors raspberries, so some writers...

Q 03/05

Which Ford car, launched in 1908, had an engine that could also run on ethanol or kerosene?

A) Model A

B) Model N

C) Model K

D) Model T

Answer · why

D) Model T

The Model T could switch fuels, but cheaper fossil fuel and then Prohibition made ethanol impractical for most drivers.

Q 04/05

In England's old 'proof' test for ethanol content, which substance was soaked in spirits and then set alight?

A) Cotton wool

B) Gunpowder

C) Lamp wick

D) Sawdust

Answer · why

B) Gunpowder

Gunpowder that still burned after soaking put a spirit 'above proof', which mattered because spirits were taxed by strength. Proof was later fixed at ...

Q 05/05

Alcohol, the everyday name for ethanol, comes from the Arabic al-kuhl, a powder originally used as what?

A) Wound dressing

B) Fabric dye

C) Eye makeup

D) Incense

Answer · why

C) Eye makeup

Eye makeup is the root: kuhl was the dark powder, usually antimony, that still gives us the word kohl. Alchemists later used alcohol for any refined e...