Methanol (Wood Alcohol) (CH₃OH) — Properties, Uses & Safety

Overview

Methanol (CH3OH), also known as wood alcohol or methyl alcohol, is the simplest alcohol with a molar mass of 32.04 g/mol. It is a colorless, volatile liquid with a faint alcoholic odor that is miscible with water in all proportions. Methanol's structure consists of a methyl group (CH3) bonded to a hydroxyl group (OH), making it the most basic example of the alcohol functional group in organic chemistry. Historically, methanol was obtained by the destructive distillation of wood, hence the name wood alcohol. Today it is produced industrially from synthesis gas (a mixture of CO and H2) using catalytic processes, with global production exceeding 100 million metric tons annually. Methanol serves as a key feedstock for producing formaldehyde, acetic acid, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), and numerous other chemicals. It is also used as a solvent, antifreeze component, and fuel — methanol fuel cells and methanol-blended gasoline are active areas of clean energy research. However, methanol is extremely toxic to humans. Ingestion of as little as 10 mL can cause permanent blindness, and 30 mL or more can be fatal. The body metabolizes methanol via alcohol dehydrogenase into formaldehyde and then formic acid, which damages the optic nerve and causes metabolic acidosis. GHS hazard codes include H225 (highly flammable), H301/H311/H331 (toxic if swallowed, in contact with skin, or inhaled), and H370 (causes damage to organs). Treatment for methanol poisoning involves administering ethanol or fomepizole, which competitively inhibit alcohol dehydrogenase. For chemistry students, methanol illustrates alcohol nomenclature, hydrogen bonding, polarity, toxicology, competitive enzyme inhibition, and the industrial importance of catalytic synthesis from simple gases.

IUPAC Name

methanol

CAS Number

67-56-1

PubChem CID

887

Molecular Formula

CH₃OH

Molar Mass

32.042 g/mol

State at STP

liquid

Appearance

Colorless, volatile liquid