Final answer:
Ethanol is produced through the process of alcoholic fermentation by yeasts when they ferment the sugars in grains and fruits. This process is commonly used in the production of alcoholic beverages like beer and wine.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, is produced when yeast ferment the natural sugars in grains and fruits. Yeasts are single-celled organisms that undergo the process of alcoholic fermentation to convert sugars into ethanol and carbon dioxide gas. This process is commonly used in the production of beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages. The balanced chemical reaction for the fermentation of glucose is:
C6H12O6 → 2C2H5OH + 2CO2