Metüüliks

Metüüliks is a term used in Estonian to refer to methyl alcohol, also known as methanol. Methanol is the simplest alcohol, with the chemical formula CH3OH. It is a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid with a distinctive odor that is often described as being similar to ethanol but sharper.

Methanol is a significant industrial chemical. It is primarily produced from natural gas, coal, or biomass through processes like steam reforming or gasification. A major use of methanol is as a feedstock for the production of other chemicals, most notably formaldehyde, which is then used to create a wide range of products including resins, plastics, and adhesives. Methanol is also used to produce acetic acid and as a solvent in various industrial applications.

Historically, methanol was produced by the destructive distillation of wood, which led to it being called "wood alcohol." This method is less common today due to the efficiency of synthetic production.

While methanol is an essential industrial chemical, it is highly toxic to humans. Ingestion, inhalation, or absorption through the skin can cause severe health problems, including blindness, organ damage, and even death. Its toxicity is due to its metabolism in the body into formaldehyde and formic acid, both of which are highly poisonous. For this reason, methanol is not suitable for consumption and is denatured when added to ethanol to make it undrinkable.