| Methanol | |
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| IUPAC name | methanol |
| Other names | hydroxymethane methyl alcohol methyl hydrate wood alcohol carbinol |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS number | [67-56-1] |
| RTECS number | PC1400000 |
| SMILES | CO |
| Properties | |
| Molecular formula | CH3OH |
| Molar mass | 32. IUPAC Nomenclature is a system of naming Chemical compounds and of describing the science of Chemistry in general CAS registry numbers are unique numerical identifiers for Chemical compounds Polymers biological sequences mixtures and Alloys They are also referred to Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances ( RTECS) is a Database of Toxicity information compiled from the open scientific literature without reference A chemical formula is a way of expressing information about the Atoms that constitute a particular Chemical compound, and how the relationship between those atoms changes Molar mass, symbol M, is the Mass of one mole of a substance ( Chemical element or Chemical compound) 04 g/mol |
| Appearance | colorless liquid |
| Density | 0. The density of a material is defined as its Mass per unit Volume: \rho = \frac{m}{V} Different materials usually have different 7918 g/cm³, liquid |
| Melting point |
–97 °C (176 K) |
| Boiling point |
64. The melting point of a solid is the temperature range at which it changes state from solid to Liquid. The boiling point of a liquid is the temperature at which the Vapor pressure of the liquid equals the environmental pressure surrounding the liquid 7 °C (337. 8 K) |
| Solubility in water | Fully miscible |
| Acidity (pKa) | ~ 15. Solubility is the characteristic Physical property referring to the ability of a given substance the Solute, to dissolve in a Solvent. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Miscibility is a term commonly used in Chemistry that refers to the property of Liquids to mix in all proportions forming a Homogeneous Solution 5 |
| Viscosity | 0. Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a Fluid which is being deformed by either Shear stress or Extensional stress. 59 mPa·s at 20 °C |
| Dipole moment | 1. Viscosity is a measure of the resistance of a Fluid which is being deformed by either Shear stress or Extensional stress. In physics there are two kinds of dipoles ( Hellènic: di(s- = two- and pòla = pivot hinge An electric dipole is a 69 D (gas) |
| Hazards | |
| MSDS | External MSDS |
| EU classification | Flammable (F) Toxic (T) |
| NFPA 704 |
 3
3
1
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| R-phrases | R11, R23/24/25, R39/23/24/25 |
| S-phrases | (S1/2), S7, S16, S36/37, S45 |
| Flash point | 11 °C |
| Related compounds | |
| Related alkanols | ethanol butanol |
| Related compounds | chloromethane methoxymethane |
| Supplementary data page | |
| Structure and properties |
n, εr, etc. The debye (symbol D) is a non- SI, CGS unit of electrical dipole moment. A material safety data sheet ( MSDS) is a form containing data regarding the properties of a particular substance This page provides supplementary chemical data on Methanol. Material Safety Data Sheet Council Directive 67/548/EEC of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of laws regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification packaging and labelling Symbolism The four divisions are typically color-coded with blue indicating level of Health Hazard, red indicating R-phrases (short for Risk Phrases) are defined in Annex III of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Nature of special risks attributed to dangerous R-phrases (short for Risk Phrases) are defined in Annex III of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Nature of special risks attributed to dangerous R-phrases (short for Risk Phrases) are defined in Annex III of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Nature of special risks attributed to dangerous R-phrases (short for Risk Phrases) are defined in Annex III of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Nature of special risks attributed to dangerous S-phrases are defined in Annex IV of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Safety advice concerning dangerous substances and preparations. S-phrases are defined in Annex IV of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Safety advice concerning dangerous substances and preparations. S-phrases are defined in Annex IV of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Safety advice concerning dangerous substances and preparations. S-phrases are defined in Annex IV of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Safety advice concerning dangerous substances and preparations. S-phrases are defined in Annex IV of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Safety advice concerning dangerous substances and preparations. S-phrases are defined in Annex IV of European Union Directive 67/548/EEC: Safety advice concerning dangerous substances and preparations. The flash point of a flammable liquid is the lowest Temperature at which it can form an ignitable mixture in air In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon Butanol or butyl alcohol (sometimes also called biobutanol when produced biologically is a Primary alcohol with a 4 Carbon structure and the Molecular Chloromethane, also called Methyl chloride, R-40 or HCC 40 is a Chemical compound of the group of Organic compounds called Haloalkanes. Dimethyl ether is the organic compound with the formula CH3OCH3 This page provides supplementary chemical data on Methanol. Material Safety Data Sheet This page provides supplementary chemical data on Methanol. Material Safety Data Sheet The refractive index (or index of Refraction) of a medium is a measure for how much the speed of light (or other waves such as sound waves is reduced inside the medium Measurement The relative static permittivity εr can be measured for static Electric fields as follows first the Capacitance of a test |
| Thermodynamic data |
Phase behaviour Solid, liquid, gas |
| Spectral data | UV, IR, NMR, MS |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
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Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, carbinol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits, is a chemical compound with chemical formula CH3OH (often abbreviated MeOH). This page provides supplementary chemical data on Methanol. Material Safety Data Sheet This page provides supplementary chemical data on Methanol. Material Safety Data Sheet Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy or ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry ( UV/ VIS) involves the Spectroscopy of Photons in the UV-visible Infrared spectroscopy (IR spectroscopy is the subset of Spectroscopy that deals with the Infrared region of the Electromagnetic spectrum. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, most commonly known as NMR spectroscopy, is the name given to a technique which exploits the magnetic properties of certain nuclei Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique that identifies the chemical composition of a compound or sample based on the Mass-to-charge ratio of charged particles In Chemistry, the standard state of a material is its state at 1 bar (100 Kilopascals exactly A chemical compound is a substance consisting of two or more different elements chemically bonded together in a fixed proportion by Mass. A chemical formula is a way of expressing information about the Atoms that constitute a particular Chemical compound, and how the relationship between those atoms changes Carbon (kɑɹbən is a Chemical element with the symbol C and its Atomic number is 6 Hydrogen (ˈhaɪdrədʒən is the Chemical element with Atomic number 1 In Chemistry, hydroxide is the most common name for the diatomic Anion OH− consisting of Oxygen and Hydrogen It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colourless, flammable, poisonous liquid with a distinctive odor that is somewhat milder and sweeter than ethanol (ethyl alcohol). In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon Volatility in the context of Chemistry, Physics and Thermodynamics is a measure of the tendency of a substance to Vaporize. Flammability is the ease with which a substance will ignite causing Fire or Combustion. In the context of Biology, poisons are substances that can cause damage, Illness, or Death to Organisms usually by At room temperature it is a polar liquid and is used as an antifreeze, solvent, fuel, and as a denaturant for ethyl alcohol. A solvent is a liquid or gas that dissolves a solid liquid or gaseous Solute, resulting in a Solution. Antifreeze is a Cryoprotectant used in Internal combustion engines and for many other heat transfer applications such as electronics cooling and Chillers A solvent is a liquid or gas that dissolves a solid liquid or gaseous Solute, resulting in a Solution. Fuel is any material that is burned or altered in order to obtain energy Denatured alcohol is Ethanol which has been rendered toxic or otherwise undrinkable and in some cases dyed It is also used for producing biodiesel via transesterification reaction. Biodiesel refers to a non-petroleum-based Diesel fuel consisting of short chain Alkyl ( Methyl or ethyl) Esters made by In Organic chemistry, transesterification is the process of exchanging the Alcohol group of an Ester compound with another Alcohol.
Methanol is produced naturally in the anaerobic metabolism of many varieties of bacteria. An anaerobic organism is any Organism that does not require Oxygen for growth and may even die in its presence Metabolism is the set of Chemical reactions that occur in living Organisms in order to maintain Life. As a result, there is a small fraction of methanol vapor in the atmosphere. Over the course of several days, atmospheric methanol is oxidized by oxygen with the help of sunlight to carbon dioxide and water. Redox (shorthand for reduction-oxidation reaction describes all Chemical reactions in which atoms have their Oxidation number ( Oxidation state
Methanol burns in air forming carbon dioxide and water:
- 2 CH3OH + 3 O2 → 2 CO2 + 4 H2O
A methanol flame is almost colorless, causing an additional safety hazard around open methanol flames. Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life.
Because of its poisonous properties, methanol is frequently used as a denaturant additive for ethanol manufactured for industrial uses— this addition of a poison economically exempts industrial ethanol from the rather significant 'liquor' taxes that would otherwise be levied as it is the essence of all potable alcoholic beverages. In the context of Biology, poisons are substances that can cause damage, Illness, or Death to Organisms usually by 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 a multi-step process: natural gas and steam are reformed in a furnace to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide; then, hydrogen and carbon monoxide gases react under pressure in the presence of a catalyst. Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane,
An entire methanol economy, based on methanol as a primary energy-storage medium and fuel, has been seriously proposed. The methanol economy is a suggested future Economy in which Methanol replaces Fossil fuels as a mean of energy storage fuel and raw material for synthetic
Contents |
History
In their embalming process, the ancient Egyptians used a mixture of substances, including methanol, which they obtained from the pyrolysis of wood. Embalming, in most modern Cultures is the Art and Science of temporarily preserving human remains to forestall Decomposition Ancient Egypt was an Ancient Civilization in eastern North Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now Pyrolysis is the Chemical decomposition of organic materials by heating in the absence of Oxygen or any other reagents except possibly Steam Pure methanol, however, was first isolated in 1661 by Robert Boyle, who called it spirit of box, because he produced it via the distillation of boxwood. Robert Boyle was a Natural philosopher, chemist physicist inventor and early Gentleman scientist, noted for his work in Physics and Chemistry It later became known as pyroxylic spirit. In 1834, the French chemists Jean-Baptiste Dumas and Eugene Peligot determined its elemental composition. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Jean Baptiste André Dumas ( July 14, 1800 - April 10, 1884) French Chemist, best known for his works on organic analysis Eugène-Melchior Péligot (born in Paris 1811 died in Paris 1890 They also introduced the word methylene to organic chemistry, forming it from Greek methy = "wine" + hȳlē = wood (patch of trees). Greek (el ελληνική γλώσσα or simply el ελληνικά — "Hellenic" is an Indo-European language, spoken today by 15-22 million people mainly Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs Its intended origin was "alcohol made from wood (substance)," but it has Greek language errors. In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon Wood is hard fibrous lignified structural tissue produced as secondary Xylem in the stems of Woody plants notably trees but also shrubs The term "methyl" was derived in about 1840 by back-formation from methylene, and was then applied to describe "methyl alcohol. In Etymology, back-formation refers to the process of creating a new Lexeme (less precisely a new "word" by removing actual or supposed Affixes " This was shortened to "methanol" in 1892 by the International Conference on Chemical Nomenclature. The suffix -yl used in organic chemistry to form names of radicals, was extracted from the word "methyl. In Grammar, a suffix (also postfix, ending) is an Affix which is placed at the end of a word Organic chemistry is a discipline within Chemistry which involves the scientific study of the structure properties composition reactions, and preparation In Chemistry, radicals (often referred to as free radicals) are atoms molecules or ions with Unpaired electrons on an otherwise Open shell "
In 1923, the German chemists Matthias and Pier, working for BASF developed a means to convert synthesis gas (a mixture of carbon oxides and hydrogen) into methanol. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. BASF SE () is a German chemical company and the largest chemical company in the world Syngas (from syn thesis gas) is the name given to a gas mixture that contains varying amounts of Carbon monoxide and Hydrogen. Hydrogen (ˈhaɪdrədʒən is the Chemical element with Atomic number 1 A patent was filed Jan 12 1926 (reference no. 1,569,775). This process used a chromium and manganese oxid catalyst, and required extremely vigorous conditions—pressures ranging from 50 to 220 atm), and temperatures up to 450 °C. Catalysis is the process in which the rate of a Chemical reaction is increased by means of a Chemical substance known as a catalyst The Standard atmosphere is an international reference pressure defined as 101325 Pa and formerly used as unit of Pressure (symbol atm The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. Modern methanol production has been made more efficient through use of catalysts (commonly copper) capable of operating at lower pressures. Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29
The use of methanol as a motor fuel received attention during the oil crises of the 1970s due to its availability and low cost. Problems occurred early in the development of gasoline-methanol blends. As a result of its low price, some gasoline marketers over-blended. Others used improper blending and handling techniques.
In 2006 astronomers using the MERLIN array of radio telescopes at Jodrell Bank Observatory discovered a large cloud of methanol in space, 300 billion miles across. The Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network ( MERLIN) is an Interferometer array of Radio telescopes spread across England and the The Jodrell Bank Observatory (originally the Jodrell Bank Experimental Station, then the Nuffield Radio Astronomy Laboratories from 1966 to 1999 is an Observatory
Production
Today, synthesis gas is most commonly produced from the methane component in natural gas rather than from coal. Methane is a Chemical compound with the molecular formula. It is the simplest Alkane, and the principal component of Natural gas. Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane, Three processes are commercially practiced. At moderate pressures of 1 to 2 MPa (10–20 atm) and high temperatures (around 850 °C), methane reacts with steam on a nickel catalyst to produce syngas according to the chemical equation:
This reaction, commonly called steam-methane reforming or SMR, is endothermic and the heat transfer limitations place limits on the size of and pressure in the catalytic reactors used. A chemical reaction is a process that always results in the interconversion of Chemical substances The substance or substances initially involved in a chemical reaction are called Uses A Steam engine uses the expansion of steam in order to drive a Piston or Turbine to perform Mechanical work. Syngas (from syn thesis gas) is the name given to a gas mixture that contains varying amounts of Carbon monoxide and Hydrogen. A chemical equation is a symbolic representation of a Chemical reaction. Methane is a Chemical compound with the molecular formula. It is the simplest Alkane, and the principal component of Natural gas. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO is a colorless odorless tasteless yet highly toxic Gas. Hydrogen (ˈhaɪdrədʒən is the Chemical element with Atomic number 1 In Thermodynamics, the word endothermic "within-heating" describes a process or reaction that absorbs Energy in the form of Heat. Methane can also undergo partial oxidation with molecular oxygen to produce syngas, as the following equation shows:
this reaction is exothermic and the heat given off can be used in-situ to drive the steam-methane reforming reaction. Methane is a Chemical compound with the molecular formula. It is the simplest Alkane, and the principal component of Natural gas. Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO is a colorless odorless tasteless yet highly toxic Gas. Hydrogen (ˈhaɪdrədʒən is the Chemical element with Atomic number 1 In Thermodynamics, the word exothermic "outside heating" describes a process or reaction that releases Energy usually in the form of Heat, but When the two processes are combined, it is referred to as autothermal reforming. The ratio of CO and H2 can be adjusted to some extent by the water-gas shift reaction,
to provide the appropriate stoichiometry for methanol synthesis. Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO is a colorless odorless tasteless yet highly toxic Gas. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single Hydrogen (ˈhaɪdrədʒən is the Chemical element with Atomic number 1
The carbon monoxide and hydrogen then react on a second catalyst to produce methanol. Today, the most widely used catalyst is a mixture of copper, zinc oxide, and alumina first used by ICI in 1966. Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Zinc oxide is a Chemical compound with the formula ZnO It is nearly insoluble in water but soluble in Acids and Bases It occurs Imperial Chemical Industries ( ICI) is a British chemical subsidiary of a Dutch conglomerate and one of the largest chemical producers At 5–10 MPa (50–100 atm) and 250 °C, it can catalyze the production of methanol from carbon monoxide and hydrogen with high selectivity
It is worth noting that the production of synthesis gas from methane produces 3 moles of hydrogen for every mole of carbon monoxide, while the methanol synthesis consumes only 2 moles of hydrogen for every mole of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide, with the chemical formula CO is a colorless odorless tasteless yet highly toxic Gas. Hydrogen (ˈhaɪdrədʒən is the Chemical element with Atomic number 1 The mole (symbol mol) is a unit of Amount of substance: it is an SI base unit, and almost the only unit to be used to measure this One way of dealing with the excess hydrogen is to inject carbon dioxide into the methanol synthesis reactor, where it, too, reacts to form methanol according to the chemical equation
Although natural gas is the most economical and widely used feedstock for methanol production, other feedstocks can be used. Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single A chemical equation is a symbolic representation of a Chemical reaction. Carbon dioxide ( Chemical formula:) is a Chemical compound composed of two Oxygen Atoms covalently bonded to a single Hydrogen (ˈhaɪdrədʒən is the Chemical element with Atomic number 1 Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Where natural gas is unavailable, light petroleum products can be used in its place. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit
Applications
Methanol is a common laboratory solvent. It is especially useful for HPLC and UV/VIS spectroscopy due to its low UV cutoff. High-performance liquid chromatography (or High pressure liquid chromatography, HPLC) is a form of Column chromatography used frequently in Biochemistry Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy or ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry ( UV/ VIS) involves the Spectroscopy of Photons in the UV-visible
Feedstock
The largest use of methanol by far, is in making other chemicals. About 40% of methanol is converted to formaldehyde, and from there into products as diverse as plastics, plywood, paints, explosives, and permanent press textiles. Formaldehyde is a Chemical compound with the formula H2CO It is the simplest Aldehyde —an organic compound containing a terminal Carbonyl Plastic is the general common term for a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic organic solid materials suitable for the manufacture of industrial products Plywood is a type of Engineered board made from thin sheets of Wood, called plies or veneers Paint is any Liquid, liquifiable or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque Solid An explosive material is a material that either is chemically or otherwise Energetically unstable or produces a sudden expansion of the material usually accompanied A permanent press is a fabric that has been chemically processed to resist Wrinkles and hold its shape A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn.
Also in the early 1970s, a Methanol to gasoline process was developed by Mobil for producing gasoline ready for use in vehicles. The methanol to gasoline process is a method of producing liquid Hydrocarbons for use as Synthetic fuel from Methanol by heating with ZSM-5 Zeolite Mobil Gas Station by David Shankbonejpg|thumb|Mobil gas station East Village section of New York City]] Mobil was a major American oil company One such industrial facility was built in New Zealand in the 1980s. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island In the 1990s, large amounts of methanol were used in the United States to produce the gasoline additive methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), though leakage has led to many states banning it. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Methyl tert -butyl ether, also known as methyl tertiary butyl ether and MTBE, is a Chemical compound with molecular formula C5H12O In addition to direct use as a fuel, methanol (or less commonly, ethanol) is used as a component in the transesterification of triglycerides to yield a form of biodiesel. In Organic chemistry, transesterification is the process of exchanging the Alcohol group of an Ester compound with another Alcohol. (more properly known as, TAG or triacylglyceride) is Glyceride in which the Glycerol is Esterified with three Fatty acids It is the Biodiesel refers to a non-petroleum-based Diesel fuel consisting of short chain Alkyl ( Methyl or ethyl) Esters made by
Other chemical derivatives of methanol include dimethyl ether, which has replaced chlorofluorocarbons as an aerosol spray propellant, and acetic acid. Dimethyl ether is the organic compound with the formula CH3OCH3 The haloalkanes (also known as halogenoalkanes or alkyl halides) are a group of Chemical compounds consisting of Alkanes such as Methane Aerosol spray is a type of dispensing system which creates an aerosol mist of liquid particles Acetic acid, also known as ethanoic acid, is an organic chemical compound, giving Vinegar its sour taste
Automotive fuel
Methanol is used on a limited basis to fuel internal combustion engines, mainly by virtue of the fact that it is not nearly as flammable as gasoline. Methanol has been proposed as a fuel for internal combustion and other engines mainly in combination with Gasoline. The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the Combustion of Fuel and an Oxidizer (typically air occurs in a confined space called a Flammability is the ease with which a substance will ignite causing Fire or Combustion. Pure methanol is required by rule to be used in Champcars, USAC sprint cars (as well as midgets, modifieds, etc. Champ Car, was the name for a class and specification of cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades primarily for use in the Indianapolis ), and other dirt track series such as World of Outlaws. The World of Outlaws (often abbreviated WoO is an American motorsports sanctioning body Methanol is also used in radio control, control line and free flight airplanes (required in the "glow-plug" engines that primarily power them), cars and trucks. A radio-controlled model (or RC model is a model that is steerable with the use of Radio control. Control line (also called U-Control in some countries is a simple and light way of controlling a flying Model aircraft. The segment of model aviation known as free flight is the original form of the hobby extending back centuries Model aircraft are flying or non-flying models of existing or imaginary Aircraft, often scaled down versions of full size planes using materials such as balsa For the glow plugs used in automotive diesel engines see Glowplug A glow plug (alternatively spelled glowplug or glow-plug) is a device similar Drag racers and mud racers also use methanol as their primary fuel source. Drag racing is a competition in which objects compete to be the first to cross a set finish mark usually from a dead stop and in a straight line Methanol is required with a supercharged engine in a Top Alcohol Dragster and, until the end of the 2006 season, all vehicles in the Indianapolis 500 had to run methanol. Top Alcohol Dragsters are akin to 'junior' versions of the premier Top Fuel dragster class The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, often shortened to Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500, and historically known simply as "The 500" is an American Mud racers have mixed methanol with gasoline and nitrous oxide to produce more power than gasoline and nitrous oxide alone.
One of the drawbacks of methanol as a fuel is its corrosivity to some metals, including aluminium. Corrosion means the breaking down of essential properties in a material due to Chemical reactions with its surroundings WikipediaNaming Methanol, although a weak acid, attacks the oxide coating that normally protects the aluminium from corrosion:
- 6 CH3OH + Al2O3 → 2 Al(OCH3)3 + 3 H2O
The resulting methoxide salts are soluble in methanol, resulting in clean aluminum surface, which is readily oxidised by some dissolved oxygen. Methoxide is an Organic salt, and the simplest Alkoxide. In Organic chemistry, the methoxide ion has a formula of CH3O- Oxygen (from the Greek roots ὀξύς (oxys (acid literally "sharp" from the taste of acids and -γενής (-genēs (producer literally begetteris the Also the methanol can act as an oxidizer:
- 6 CH3OH + 2 Al → 2 Al(OCH3)3 + 3 H2
This reciprocal process effectively fuels corrosion until either the metal is eaten away or the concentration of CH3OH is negligible.
When produced from wood or other organic materials, the resulting organic methanol (bioalcohol) has been suggested as renewable alternative to petroleum-based hydrocarbons. Although Fossil fuels have become the dominant Energy resource for the modern world Alcohol has been used as a fuel throughout history In Organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an Organic compound consisting entirely of Hydrogen and Carbon. However, one cannot use pure methanol in modern petroleum cars without modification, due to potential damage to metal piping and rubber seals.
Other applications
Methanol is a traditional denaturant for ethanol, thus giving the term methylated spirit. Denatured alcohol is Ethanol which has been rendered toxic or otherwise undrinkable and in some cases dyed
Methanol is also used as a solvent, and as an antifreeze in pipelines and windshield washer fluid. A solvent is a liquid or gas that dissolves a solid liquid or gaseous Solute, resulting in a Solution. Antifreeze is a Cryoprotectant used in Internal combustion engines and for many other heat transfer applications such as electronics cooling and Chillers Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Windshield washer fluid (also called windshield wiper fluid, wiper fluid, or screen wash) is a Fluid for motor vehicles that is used in
In some wastewater treatment plants, a small amount of methanol is added to wastewater to provide a food source of carbon for the denitrifying bacteria, which convert nitrates to nitrogen. Wastewater treatment plant also called wastewater treatment works Sewage treatment – treatment and disposal of human waste Distinguish from Wastwater (a lake in the Lake District in northwest England Denitrifying bacteria form a necessary part of the process known as Denitrification as part of the Nitrogen cycle, their primary purpose being to metabolise In Inorganic chemistry, a nitrate is a salt of Nitric acid with an Ion composed of one Nitrogen and three Oxygen atoms Nitrogen (ˈnaɪtɹəʤɪn is a Chemical element that has the symbol N and Atomic number 7 and Atomic weight 14
During World War II, methanol was used as a fuel in several German military rocket designs, under name M-Stoff, and in a mixture as C-Stoff. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including C-Stoff ("C substance" was a reductant used in Bipropellant rocket fuels (as a fuel itself developed by Hellmuth Walter Kommanditgesellschaft
Methanol is used as a denaturing agent in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Direct-methanol fuel cells are unique in their low temperature, atmospheric pressure operation, allowing them to be miniaturized to an unprecedented degree. Direct-methanol fuel cells or DMFCs are a subcategory of proton-exchange fuel cells where the Methanol (CH3OH fuel is not reformed as in the This, combined with the relatively easy and safe storage and handling of methanol may open the possibility of fuel cell-powered consumer electronics, such as for laptop computers. Consumer electronics include electronic equipment intended for everyday use [1]
Methanol is also a widely used fuel in camping and boating stoves. The Swedish made Trangia stoves are the probably the best known alcohol burning stoves. Methanol burns well in an unpressurized burner, so alcohol stoves are often very simple, sometimes little more than a cup to hold fuel. This lack of complexity makes them a favorite of hikers who spend extended time in the wilderness. In Roland Mueser's book Long-Distance Hiking: Lessons from the Appalachian Trail, Mueser did a survey of stoves used by thru-hikers and found that alcohol was the only stove type with a zero percent failure rate.
Health and safety
Methanol is toxic by two mechanisms. Toxicity is the degree to which a substance is able to damage an exposed organism Firstly, methanol (whether it enters the body by ingestion, inhalation, or absorption through the skin) can be fatal due to its CNS depressant properties in the same manner as ethanol poisoning. Ingestion is the consumption of a substance by an Organism. In Animals it normally is accomplished by taking in the substance through the Mouth into the Inhalation (also known as respiration) is the movement of air from the external environment through the air ways and into the Alveoli. Absorption, in Chemistry, is a physical or chemical Phenomenon or a process in which Atoms Molecules, or Ions enter some The skin is the outer covering of living tissue of an animal (or plant Depressant is a chemical agent that diminishes the function or activity of a specific part of the body (see also Sedative) Secondly, it is toxic by its metabolism (toxication) via the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase in the liver by forming formic acid and formaldehyde which cause permanent blindness by destruction of the optic nerve. Toxicity is the degree to which a substance is able to damage an exposed organism Toxication is the process of Metabolism in which the metabolite of a compound is more toxic than the parent drug or Chemical. Enzymes are Biomolecules that catalyze ( ie increase the rates of Chemical reactions Almost all enzymes are Proteins Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH is an enzyme discovered in the mid-1960s in Drosophila melanogaster. The liver is a vital organ in the human body and is present in Vertebrates and some other animals Formic acid (systematically called methanoic acid) is the simplest Carboxylic acid. Formaldehyde is a Chemical compound with the formula H2CO It is the simplest Aldehyde —an organic compound containing a terminal Carbonyl Blindness is the condition of lacking Visual perception due to Physiological or Neurological factors The optic nerve, also called cranial nerve II, is the Nerve that transmits visual information from the Retina to the Brain. [2] Fetal tissue will not tolerate methanol. Dangerous doses will build up if a person is regularly exposed to vapors or handles liquid without skin protection. If methanol has been ingested, a doctor should be contacted immediately. The usual fatal dose is 100–125 mL (4 fl oz). Toxic effects take hours to start, and effective antidotes can often prevent permanent damage. This is treated using ethanol or fomepizole. Fomepizole or 4-methylpyrazole is indicated for use as an Antidote in confirmed or suspected Methanol or Ethylene glycol poisoning [3] Either of these drugs acts to slow down the action of alcohol dehydrogenase on methanol by means of competitive inhibition, so that it is excreted by the kidneys rather than being transformed into toxic metabolites. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH is an enzyme discovered in the mid-1960s in Drosophila melanogaster. Competitive inhibition is a form of enzyme inhibition where binding of the inhibitor to the Enzyme prevents binding of the substrate and vice versa The kidneys are complicated organs that have numerous biological roles
The initial symptoms of methanol intoxication are those of central nervous system depression: headache, dizziness, nausea, lack of coordination, confusion, drowsiness, and with sufficiently large doses, unconsciousness and death. In Vertebrates the central nervous system ( CNS) is the part of the Nervous system which is enclosed in the Meninges. Depressant is a chemical agent that diminishes the function or activity of a specific part of the body (see also Sedative) The initial symptoms of methanol exposure are usually less severe than the symptoms resulting from the ingestion of a similar quantity of ethyl alcohol.
Once the initial symptoms have passed, a second set of symptoms arises 10–30 hours after the initial exposure to methanol: blurring or complete loss of vision, together with acidosis. Acidosis is an increased Acidity (ie an increased Hydrogen ion Concentration) These symptoms result from the accumulation of toxic levels of formate in the bloodstream, and may progress to death by respiratory failure. Formate or methanoate is the ion CHOO&minus ( Formic acid minus one Hydrogen ion) Respiratory failure is a medical term for inadequate Gas exchange by the Respiratory system. The ester derivatives of methanol do not share this toxicity. Esters are a class of Chemical compounds and Functional groups Esters consist of an inorganic or organic Acid in which at least
Ethanol is sometimes denatured (adulterated), and thus made undrinkable, by the addition of methanol. The result is known as methylated spirit or "meths" (UK use). Denatured alcohol is Ethanol which has been rendered toxic or otherwise undrinkable and in some cases dyed (The latter should not be confused with meth, a common abbreviation for methamphetamine. )
Pure methanol has been used in open wheel auto racing since the mid-1960s. Open-wheel car (Often single-seater car, in UK English describes cars with the wheels outside the car's main body and in most cases one seat Unlike petroleum fires, methanol fires can be extinguished with plain water. Active fire protection (AFP is an integral part of Fire protection. A methanol-based fire burns invisibly, unlike gasoline, which burns with visible smoke. If a fire occurs on the track, there is no smoke to obstruct the view of fast approaching drivers, but this can also delay visual detection of the fire and the initiation of fire suppression actions. The decision to permanently switch to methanol in American IndyCar racing was a result of the devastating crash and explosion at the 1964 Indianapolis 500 which killed drivers Eddie Sachs and Dave MacDonald. Since 1916 there has been a recognized United States national Automobile racing National Championship for drivers of professional-level single-seat Open wheel Results of the 1964 Indianapolis 500 held at Indianapolis on Saturday May 30 1964. Eddie Sachs ( May 28 1927 in Allentown Pennsylvania - May 30 1964 in Speedway Indiana) was a United States Auto Club Dave MacDonald ( July 23, 1936 &ndash May 30, 1964) was a Corvette and Shelby Cobra Sports car driver in the [4]
One concern with the addition of methanol to automotive fuels is highlighted by recent groundwater impacts from the fuel additive methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Methyl tert -butyl ether, also known as methyl tertiary butyl ether and MTBE, is a Chemical compound with molecular formula C5H12O Leaking underground gasoline storage tanks created MTBE plumes in groundwater that eventually contaminated well water. Methanol's high solubility in water raises concerns that similar well water contamination could arise from the widespread use of methanol as an automotive fuel.
See also
- Liquid fuels
- Methanol fuel
- List of Stoffs
- Methanol (data page)
- Methanol economy
- Aspartame
- Methanol to gasoline
References
- ^ Sandy Berger (September 30, 2006). Liquid fuels are those combustible or energy-generating molecules that can be harnessed to create Mechanical energy, usually producing Kinetic energy; they also must Methanol has been proposed as a fuel for internal combustion and other engines mainly in combination with Gasoline. During World War II, Germany fielded many Aircraft and Rockets whose fuels were designated (letter- Stoff. This page provides supplementary chemical data on Methanol. Material Safety Data Sheet The methanol economy is a suggested future Economy in which Methanol replaces Fossil fuels as a mean of energy storage fuel and raw material for synthetic Aspartame (or APM) (ˈæspɚteɪm or /əˈspɑrteɪm/ is the name for an artificial non- Saccharide Sweetener, aspartyl-phenylalanine-1-methyl The methanol to gasoline process is a method of producing liquid Hydrocarbons for use as Synthetic fuel from Methanol by heating with ZSM-5 Zeolite Methanol Laptop Fuel. Compu·Kiss. Retrieved on 2007-05-22. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus.
- ^ Methanol and Blindness. Ask A Scientist, Chemistry Archive. Retrieved on 22 May 2007.
- ^ (January 2001)"Fomepizole in the Treatment of Poisoning" in Pediatrics Volume 107 (No. 1). Retrieved on 22 May 2007. Events 334 BC - The Greek army of Alexander the Great defeats Darius III of Persia in the Battle of the Granicus. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
- ^ McDonald, Norris, “Green no longer bad luck at Indy”, Toronto Star, <http://www.thestar.com/comment/columnists/article/205088>
- Robert Boyle, The Sceptical Chymist (1661) – contains account of distillation of wood alcohol. Robert Boyle was a Natural philosopher, chemist physicist inventor and early Gentleman scientist, noted for his work in Physics and Chemistry The Sceptical Chymist or Chymico-Physical Doubts & Paradoxes is the title of Robert Boyle 's masterpiece of scientific literature published in London
- Gallucci, F. , Basile, A. , Drioli, E. , Methanol as an energy source and/or energy carrier in membrane processes Separation and Purification Reviews 36 (2), pp. 175-202
External links
- International Chemical Safety Card 0057
- Race Car Book RaceCarBook. com, includes technical articles and methanol racing book information.
- The Methanol Institute Industry trade group, lots of information on methanol's use in fuel cells and as an alternative fuel.
- The methanol story: a sustainable fuel for the future article by Ford Motor's Roberta Nichols, the mother of the flexible fuel vehicle, discussing Gasoline-Ethanol-Methanol flexibility in the Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research
- National Pollutant Inventory - Methanol Fact Sheet
- Molview from bluerhinos.co.uk See Methanol in 3D
- Methanol Discovered in Space
Dictionary
methanol
-noun
- (organic chemistry) The simplest aliphatic alcohol, CH3OH; a colourless, toxic, inflammable liquid, used as a solvent, antifreeze, in the chemical industry, and in the preparation of methylated spirit.
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