What is Methanol: Definition and 47 Discussions

Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol amongst other names, is a chemical and the simplest alcohol, with the formula CH3OH (a methyl group linked to a hydroxyl group, often abbreviated MeOH). It is a light, volatile, colourless, flammable liquid with a distinctive alcoholic odour similar to that of ethanol (potable alcohol).
A polar solvent, methanol acquired the name wood alcohol because it was once produced chiefly by the destructive distillation of wood. Today, methanol is mainly produced industrially by hydrogenation of carbon monoxide.Methanol consists of a methyl group linked to a polar hydroxyl group. With more than 20 million tons produced annually, it is used as a precursor to other commodity chemicals, including formaldehyde, acetic acid, methyl tert-butyl ether, methyl benzoate, anisole, peroxyacids, as well as a host of more specialised chemicals.

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  1. M

    Researching Turboprops: Fuel Comparison of Hydrogen, Methanol, & Jet A1

    Hello I'm trying to get some good reference material so I can do a literature review on Turboprops and a comparison of PSFC of Hydrogen/Methanol/Jet A1 fuels for turboprops. If anyone knows any good source material for this please let me know as I have struggled to find anything. Regards, Michael
  2. BWV

    Methanol - H fuel cells for marine transport

    This privately held company developed a technology to extract H from methanol stored onboard marine craft, then the H can be used in a fuel cell for power. I assume the reason for a H fuel cell vs a direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) in a marine vessel is that direct methanol cannot deliver large...
  3. I

    Chemistry Equilibrium of Methanol Vapor Decomposition

    The solution says that when the effusion rate ratio is multiplied by the equilibrium mole ratio of H2 to CH3OH, the effused mixture will have 33.0 times as much H2 as CH3OH. I don't understand why. I just set the equilibrium mole ratio of H2 to CH3OH as equal to 33.0 times, Why is this...
  4. il postino

    Chemistry Calculate the boiling temperature of methanol from thermodynamic data

    Calculate the boiling temperature of methanol at 60 atm knowing that Tc = 513K, Pc = 78 atm and the acentricity is 0.555. I would like you to help me start the exercise. I thought about using the Pitzer Correlation to be able to calculate the fugacity coefficient, but I don't have the...
  5. Kartik Paghdal

    Relation for the thermodynamic and transport properties of Methanol

    I need to find the properties such as specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, density and others.
  6. T

    Safe Methanol Substitute: Finding the Right Chemical

    Hi I was wondering if anyone could tell if there is a chemical that reacts the methanol but is also safe to consume in small amounts
  7. S

    Missing 24 Micron Counterparts for Methanol Multibeam Sources

    I was searching for 24 micron counterparts(in the MIPSGAL catalogue) for Methanol Multibeam sources but found them missing for most of the cases. What could be the posssible reason?
  8. V

    MeOH:H2O Freezing Point Depression Calculation Issue

    I noticed that my windshield washer fluid has methanol in it to reduce the temperature of which it freezes. I know it freezes at approximately -28°C which gives us a concentration of MeOH at approximately ~30% by weight. However, when I try to calculate the required methanol using the mSolute...
  9. P

    Dangers of Methanol Exposure: Vessel Rupture Risks

    For a vessel containing liquid methanol (95%) and other substances (methanol takes up about 40 wt%), which operates at 4.5 bar and 75C, what would happen if the vessel ruptures? SInce it's at a relatively high pressure, the methanol should still remain as liquid and hence no explosion? What kind...
  10. R

    DME from methanol dehydration?

    I've been reading that is possible to produce DME (dimethyl ether) from methanol using a catalyst. In the following website: http://www.topsoe.com/products/dme-99-ecotmI've found a catalyst for the dehydration of methanol to produce DME. I would like to know technical information about the...
  11. 0

    Application of Series/Parallel connection of DMFC? (Direct Methanol Fuel Cell)

    Hello, Just as the title asks, what sort of applications would series and parallel connections of Direct Methanol Fuel Cell suit the best? Based from my understanding of Fuel Cells and experimental results, one cell is not enough to power anything, hence they are used in stacks, in addition...
  12. Superposed_Cat

    Determining ethanol and methanol content in homemade booze

    Hi, I've recently made some very budget homemade 'beer', butt I'm wondering is there an easy (doesn't have to be accurate) way to determining ethanol and methanol content. any help appreciated.
  13. S

    Recrystallizing out of methanol

    Hi, I am trying to recrystallize salt from methanol. I am having trouble. This is exactly what I did: I dissolved a gram of salt into 20 ml of methanol (the bottle I have says methyl hydrate but I read online that it's the same thing as methanol). Then I made a hot water bath. I put a pyrex...
  14. R

    Synthesis of methanol from CO2+H2

    I was searching some info in this forum and I found something here: https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=160186 As far I know you've to mix carbon dioxide and hydrogen and the result is methanol. I want to understand more technical information, like the amount of each gas that...
  15. C

    Phase diagram por methanol -

    PLEASE! I need to find a pressure-temperature phase diagram por PURE methanol! it's driving me mad...
  16. P

    Methanol vs water acidity

    Homework Statement Soooo...looking at Ka values, methanol is more acidic than water. Ethanol is less acidic. I understand that the reason ethanol is less acidic than water is because the ethanol ion has an inductive effect where more electrons are donated to the oxygen, so it being more...
  17. S

    Converting Methane to Methanol with Photochemical Reactor

    Methane to Methanol Methane to Methanol 2 Hello everyone. In the link above is a pdf from the Department of Energy detailing how they created methanol our of water using a photochemical reactor. Im not sure if I am asking the correct people (you people) but I was wondering if you...
  18. D

    7% glacial acetic acid in 40% (v/v) methanol

    How do I make 7% glacial acetic acid in 40% (v/v) methanol?
  19. V

    Colored flames in methanol

    I'm trying to get a variety of colored flames by dissolving salt and methanol (after the fashion of this YouTube video et al.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRNLqTfIjQo"). I'm doing halfway alright with strontium chloride solution and boric acid solution, but having some trouble: the boric...
  20. M

    Volume Contraction (Water & Methanol Mixture)

    Hey there. I've been searching the internet on volume contraction with water and methaol mixture. Although I have found a little bit of infomation I don't know why it happens. I found it quite intriguing that mixing 50ml of water and 50ml of Methanol =/= 100ml of liquid. In fact there is a 4%...
  21. O

    Methanol in the body - Aspartame

    According to the Pepsi website, a can of Diet Pepsi has 111mg of Aspartame per container. http://www.pepsiproductfacts.com/infobyproduct.php?brand_fam_id=1051&brand_id=1000&product=Diet%20Pepsi In the body Aspartame metabolises primarily to Phenylalanine ~50%, secondarily to Aspartic Acid ~40%...
  22. T

    O-Chem: Alkene Reaction with HBr and Methanol

    Homework Statement What are the two final products when cis-2-butene reacts with HBr and CH3OH? Homework Equations Reactions of Alkenes.The Attempt at a Solution I'm not sure if the HBr will attack the double bond first or if the OH on methane will take the H off HBr and create a radical...
  23. A

    Methanol Chlorination Reaction Details

    HI, I want to know the details of the following reaction 400 C CH3OH + HCl -------Aluminium Oxide---> CH3Cl + H2O could anyone tell me more about this reaction please. Thabks.
  24. A

    Is it possible to burn methanol without O2

    Homework Statement Is it possible to burn methanol by using NO2 as an Oxidant instead of using O2 and what will be the product? Homework Equations CH3OH + NO2 =====> ?? The Attempt at a Solution CH3OH + NO2 =====> CH3ONO + HNO NOT sure
  25. M

    Using ice in the combustion of Paraffin and Methanol

    Homework Statement During a lab where the heat of combustion of paraffin and methanol was found, ice was used to lower the temperature of water to 10 C, then the water was heated to 30C. This inturn gave us the information to find the molar heat of combustion. My question is why was ice...
  26. M

    Can I Accurately Mix Nitro Fuel Without a Hydrometer?

    i just started a hobby i couldn't afford till now. radio control cars. iam have been running a nitro truck for 7 mo. i started mixing my own nitro fuel, 30% nitro, 10% oil, rest methanol. i have been measuring by volume. i was told that doing it this way it will be off, by a cretin...
  27. C

    Prepare a 100mg/ml solution of glacial acetic acid in methanol

    How to prepare a 100mg/ml solution of glacial acetic acid in methanol? The density of glacial acetic acid is 1.05 g/cm^3.
  28. Topher925

    Why is methanol used in race engines?

    The enthalpy of formation of methanol (-22.7 KJ/g) is about half that of octane (-47.8 KJ/g). But methanol allows an ICE engine to achieve much greater specific powers than a comparable gasoline engine. My RC heli runs on methanol and will outperform any gas powered heli. But why is this? I...
  29. J

    Mechanism for Aspartame to methanol?

    Hey guys. Can someone show me the mechanism for Aspartame to methanol?
  30. J

    Energy Required to Vaporize Methanol

    I apologize for the fact that I am a complete layman. It might be time for me to go and learn some thermodynamics. I am working on the design for a production lab at my Community College, and while I'm sure we have engineers to do this for us, I was really curious about sizing a boiler. I...
  31. S

    Methanol Maser Emission: Strength and Effects on Earth

    Hi I'm an MPhys Physics with Astro student, conducting my final year project in the field of radio astronomy (well, it's more like electronics at the moment - trying to fix a downconverter, but anyway...) My question: I'm interested in observing the 6.67GHz methanol maser emission. For a...
  32. C

    Finding VLE of Methyl Acetate & Methanol: Dew & Bubble T, Comp

    (a) Find the dew temperature and composition for a mixture of y1 = 0.55 at 3.954 bar. (Answers. 371 K and x1 = 0.58) (b) Find the bubble temperature and composition for a mixture of x1 = 0.50 at 3.954 bar. (Answers. 371 K and y1 = 0.49) (c) Using the Wilson equation and the constants listed...
  33. Y

    Calculating the Mass & Comp. of Methanol Mixtures

    Homework Statement Two methanol-water mixtures are contained in separate flasks. The first mixture contains 40wt% methanol and the second contains 70wt% methanol. If 200g of the first mixture is combined with 150g of the second, what are the mass and composition of the product? Homework...
  34. M

    Checking & Removing Water from Methanol Gas Dryer in Wichita KS

    moe in wichita ks if i buy a "gas dryer" methanol. how can i check to see if it has water in it? and if it has water can it be removed?
  35. B

    Methanol medium pressure pump needed

    I have a project that i am doing that requires that i pump methanol at a temperature of about 140F at a volume of about 1 to 2 gpm and a pressure of around 150 - 200 psi. It must be capable of 'run dry' by which i mean that it may not always have fluid to pump. Can anyone give me a lead on a...
  36. R

    What are the coefficients of thermal expansion for methanol in F^-1?

    Does anyone have coefficients of thermal expansion in F^-1 instead of in C^-1. I have worked out an equation from thermodynamic first principals that derives the throttling equation I then did the first order non-seperable differential equation: dT/dP = C1*T - C2 to get the following...
  37. M

    Solving Methanol Evaporation Problem

    Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone could help me out with this problem? If you place 10.0L of methanol (CH4O) in a sealed room that is 3 m long, 1.75 m wide, and 2.5 m high, will all the methanol evaporate? If some liquid remains, how much will there be? The vapor pressure of methanol is...
  38. V

    What is the refractive index of Methanol in the Infra Red range?

    I'm looking for Methanol (CH3OH) refractive index (n,k) table in Infra Red 2-10micron If anyone can help me with that
  39. P

    The Difference Between Methanol & Methanol R

    Hi all, Please explain to me what methanol R is. What is the difference of methanol R and methanol?. Thanks
  40. B

    Methane to methanol / a direct pathway ?

    Dear all ! Does anyone have experience with direct methane conversion to methanol ? I am trying to explore a new pathway avoiding the syn gas step. One can basically think of two approaches: a) chemically via classic catalysts, b) biologically via enzymes or bacteria. Research has been...
  41. L

    Increase Methanol Yield from CO + H2 Reaction

    Methanol, CH3OH, is synthesised on a commercial scale by pumping a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen through a reaction vessel containing a mixture of CR2O3 and ZnO. In the reaction vessel, equilibrium is reached according to the equation CO + 2H2 CH3OH Suggest two methods...
  42. J

    How to make Methanol with involving electricity

    How to make Methanol with involving electricity Are there any method on making Methanol with electricity, H2O and CO2? 2 CH3OH + 3 O2 → 2 CO2 + 4 H2O
  43. J

    Does methanol or propanol release more heat?

    during combustion which one releases more heat and what is the rationale behind it? is there a website with all the bond energies between each element combination?
  44. R

    Can Methanol be Detected with TLC?

    any simple test to test for the present of methanol?
  45. C

    Clausius-Clapeyron equatioin's constant for methanol

    Hi everyone! I'm searching for the constants in Clausius-Clapeyron equation lnP=A-C/T I'ld like to know the value of A and C. (for Pressure unity is hPa and Temperature is K ) Thanks
  46. L

    Vinegar to Methanol: Possible?

    is this possible? see what i did was poured some apple cider vinegar into a cup and coverd it with saran wrap and overlapped so it would catch in my little aluminum foil base. i left it out in the sun for 2 days and when i approached it i may just be crazy but i could feintly smell the scent...
  47. S

    Which is a better coolant for a car: methanol or water?

    What exactly is a coolant? Which is a better coolant for a car: methanol or water? Why? Thank you for your time! :wink:
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