Some Commercially Important Alcohols

Alcohols are organic compounds containing one or more hydroxyl (-OH) groups attached to carbon atoms. Some alcohols are produced on a large commercial scale due to their wide range of applications. Among these, methanol and ethanol are the most important and widely used alcohols. They serve as solvents, fuels and raw materials for the manufacture of numerous industrial chemicals.

Methanol (Methyl Alcohol)

Methanol (CH₃OH), commonly known as methyl alcohol or wood spirit, is the simplest member of the alcohol family.

• Earlier, methanol was obtained by the destructive distillation of wood, which gave rise to its common name, wood spirit.
• At present, methanol is manufactured commercially by the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon monoxide.

Properties of Methanol

Methanol possesses several characteristic physical properties that make it useful in industrial applications. However, it is highly toxic and must be handled with great care.

• It is a colourless, volatile liquid with a characteristic alcoholic odour.
• It mixes completely with water in all proportions.
• It is highly poisonous in nature.
• Consumption of methanol can cause blindness and may even be fatal.

Uses of Methanol

Methanol is an important industrial chemical and is widely used as a solvent, fuel and raw material in the manufacture of various chemical products.

• It is used as a solvent in paints, varnishes and other industrial products.
• It is used in the manufacture of formaldehyde, an important industrial chemical.
• It is employed as a fuel and fuel additive.
• It serves as a starting material for the manufacture of formaldehyde, acetic acid, plastics and other synthetic chemicals.
• It is used in laboratories and chemical industries for various manufacturing processes.

Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol)

Ethanol (C₂H₅OH), commonly known as ethyl alcohol, is one of the most widely used alcohols.

• It is obtained by the fermentation of sugars in the presence of yeast and can also be prepared industrially from ethene.
• Ethanol has numerous commercial applications because of its solvent properties and relatively low toxicity compared to methanol.

Properties of Ethanol

Ethanol is a colourless, volatile liquid with properties that make it suitable for use in medicines, industries and laboratories. It is one of the most widely used alcohols in everyday life.

• It is a colourless liquid with a pleasant smell.
• It is completely miscible with water.
• It is volatile and highly flammable.
• It acts as a good solvent for many organic compounds.

Uses of Ethanol

Because of its good solvent properties and relatively low toxicity, ethanol has numerous applications in medicine, industry, fuel technology and the manufacture of commercial products.

• It is used as a solvent in medicines, perfumes, cosmetics, paints and varnishes.
• It is used in the manufacture of alcoholic beverages.
• It is widely used as an antiseptic and disinfectant.
• It is used as a fuel and blended with petrol to form gasohol.
• It is used in the preparation of chemicals such as acetic acid, esters and pharmaceuticals.
• It is used in laboratories as a preservative and reagent.