Metanóli

Metanóli is the common name for methanol, an organic compound with the chemical formula CH3OH. It is the simplest alcohol, consisting of a methyl group attached to a hydroxyl group. Methanol is a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid with a distinctive odor, often described as being similar to ethanol but sharper. It is highly soluble in water and miscible with many organic solvents.

Historically, methanol was produced by the destructive distillation of wood, leading to its common name "wood alcohol." Today, the vast majority of methanol is synthesized industrially from natural gas or coal through a process involving steam reforming to produce synthesis gas (a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen), followed by catalytic conversion of this gas to methanol.

Methanol is a significant industrial chemical and serves as a crucial feedstock for the production of numerous other chemicals, including formaldehyde, acetic acid, and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a gasoline additive. It is also used as a solvent, an antifreeze, and in the production of various polymers and plastics. Furthermore, methanol can be used as a fuel, either directly or as a component in fuel blends.

However, methanol is also toxic to humans. Ingestion can lead to serious health consequences, including blindness and death, due to its metabolism into formaldehyde and formic acid in the body. For this reason, it is often denatured when used as a solvent or fuel to make it unfit for consumption.