Methanol

Methanol, also called methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, the first member of the class of organic (carbon-based) compounds called alcohols. Alcohols have the functional group -OH bonded to carbon chains of differing lengths. In methanol, the chain is just one carbon atom long; its formula is CH₃OH, or:

Methanol is a colourless liquid with a boiling point of 65° C (149° F). It mixes completely with water and with other short-chain alcohols. It is toxic if drunk—small quantities cause blindness and larger ones death. Methylated spirits consists of ethanol to which about 10 per cent methanol has been added (along with a blue dye) to make it undrinkable.

Methanol is used as a solvent, a fuel and additive for vehicle fuels, and to make methanal, from which plastics such as Bakelite are made. Methanol itself was once made by distilling wood (hence the name “wood alcohol”). It is now made from various hydrocarbons derived from crude oil (see Petroleum). These are heated with steam to form synthesis gas (a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide). This gas then reacts over a catalyst to form methanol.

The chemical reactions of methanol include: oxidation to methanal and then methanoic acid; nucleophilic substitution reactions in which the -OH group is replaced by another atom or group (such as a halogen); formation of esters with carboxylic acids; and formation of ethers.