Methanol, often called wood alcohol, is the simplest alcohol with the chemical formula CH₃OH. It is a colorless, volatile, and flammable liquid at room temperature, with a characteristic faintly sweet odor. Methanol is produced both naturally and synthetically, and it has numerous industrial and commercial applications.

Key Properties:

• Chemical Formula: CH₃OH
• Molecular Weight: 32.04 g/mol
• Physical State: Liquid at room temperature
• Boiling Point: Approximately 64.7 °C (148.5 °F)
• Solubility: Completely miscible with water, ethanol, ether, and many other organic solvents

Production:
Historically, methanol was produced by the destructive distillation of wood, giving rise to the name “wood alcohol.” Today, it is predominantly synthesized from syn-gas (a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) using a copper-based catalyst. Another emerging method involves converting methane (the primary component of natural gas) into methanol, representing a key component in natural gas-to-liquids (GTL) technologies.

Uses and Applications:

1. Chemical Feedstock: Methanol is a crucial starting material for manufacturing a wide range of chemicals, including formaldehyde, acetic acid, methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), and various plastics, resins, and adhesives.
2. Fuel and Energy Applications: Methanol can be blended with gasoline to create high-octane fuel blends, and it’s used as a fuel in specialized racing engines. In addition, there’s growing interest in using methanol as a hydrogen carrier for fuel cells and for powering direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs).
3. Solvent and Extraction Agent: Thanks to its polarity and ability to dissolve a broad range of substances, methanol is commonly used as a solvent in laboratories and industrial processes.
4. Denaturant for Ethanol: Methanol is frequently added to ethanol to make it undrinkable, a process known as denaturing, thus avoiding beverage alcohol taxes.