The sensitivity of electrical conductivity of ZnO-based ceramics to vapors of saturated monohydric alcohols was investigated. Its interconnection with physicochemical parameters of alcohols: molecular mass, entropy, Gibbs energy, enthalpy, the bond breaking energy of C-O and O-H molecular bonds was analyzed. The selectivity of gas-sensitive properties toward vapors of saturated monohydric alcohols, seen in temperature, kinetic and concentration dependences of response was found. A model linking the sensor response, entropy and molecular mass was proposed. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.