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methanol

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2005 | Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition, Copyright (c) 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

METHANOL [methanol]   methyl alcohol, or wood alcohol, CH 3 OH, a colorless, flammable liquid that is miscible with water in all proportions. Methanol is a monohydric alcohol . It melts at -97.8°C and boils at 67°C. It reacts with certain acids to form methyl esters. Methanol is a fatal poison. Small internal doses, continued inhalation of the vapor, or prolonged exposure of the skin to the liquid may cause blindness. As a result, commercial use of methanol has sometimes been prohibited. Methanol is used as a solvent for varnishes and lacquers, as an antifreeze, and as a gasoline extender in the production of gasohol . Large amounts of it are used in the synthesis of formaldehyde . Because of its poisonous properties, methanol is also used as a denaturant for ethanol. Methanol is often called wood alcohol because it was once produced chiefly as a byproduct of the destructive distillation of wood. It is now produced synthetically by the direct combination of hydrogen and carbon monoxide gases, heated under pressure in the presence of a catalyst.

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Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries, and thesauruses

Wood Alcohol (Methanol)
Encyclopedia entry from: Encyclopedia of Drugs, Alcohol, and Addictive Behavior WOOD ALCOHOL (METHANOL) Methanol (methyl alcohol, CH 3 OH) is the simplest of the alcohols. It is...of producing drinking Alcohol (ethanol). Chemically synthesized methanol is a common industrial solvent found in paint remover, cleansing... Read more
methanol maser
Book article from: A Dictionary of Astronomy methanol maser A maser source in which the methanol molecule (CH 3 OH) is excited to maser action. Methanol masers are found only in star‐forming regions, where they are second only to H 2 O... Read more
methanol
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition ...miscible with water in all proportions. Methanol is a monohydric alcohol . It melts at...certain acids to form methyl esters. Methanol is a fatal poison. Small internal doses...blindness. As a result, commercial use of methanol has sometimes been prohibited. Methanol... Read more
gasohol
Book article from: A Dictionary of Biology ...petrol (gasoline) and alcohol (i.e. typically ethanol at 10%, or methanol at 3%), used as an alternative fuel for cars and other vehicles...can damage certain engine components, such as rubber seals. Methanol-based gasohol is more toxic and corrosive, and its emissions... Read more
methyl alcohol
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition see methanol . Read more

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