Methanol
Methanol is an organic compound with the molecular formula CH4O.
- Formula
- CH4O
- Functional group
- Alcohols
- Molar mass
- 32.042 g/mol
- Also known as
- methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, Methylol, Wood naphtha, Methyl hydroxide, Monohydroxymethane
Overview
Methanol is an organic compound with the molecular formula CH4O.
Identifiers
- Formula
- CH4O
- Functional group
- Alcohols
- Molar mass
- 32.042 g/mol
- Also known as
- methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, Methylol, Wood naphtha, Methyl hydroxide, Monohydroxymethane
Chemical identifiers
- SMILES
- CO
- InChI
- InChI=1S/CH4O/c1-2/h2H,1H3
- PubChem CID
- 887
Properties
- Melting Point
- -97.8 °C
- Boiling Point
- 64.7 °C at 760 mm Hg
- Relative density (water = 1)
- Relative density (water = 1): 0.79
- Water solubility
- Miscible with water at 25 °C
Diagnostic tests
Iodoform comparison with ethanol
- Reagent
- iodine in aqueous alkali
- Conditions
- Matched small-scale comparison with an ethanol positive control.
- Positive observation
- Yellow precipitate indicates a component with the required iodoform-forming structure.
- Negative observation
- Methanol gives no yellow iodoform precipitate.
- Interpretation
- Methanol lacks the carbon arrangement that gives ethanol a positive result.
- Scope
- Expected negative for methanol.
- Limitations
- Negative reference responses for the compared compounds.
- Evidence
- reference experiment
Related compounds
- Alcohols
Methanol is an organic compound with the molecular formula CH4O.
Connected reactions
- Catalytic oxidation: Methanol → Methanal
Removing hydrogen from methanol creates a carbonyl while retaining its single carbon. Oxygen accepts the removed hydrogen as water in this overall catalytic-oxidation equation.
- Carbonyl reduction: Methanal → Methanol
Hydride addition forms a new C-H bond and converts the C=O pi bond into an alkoxide. Protonation then gives methanol without introducing another carbon.
- Esterification: Methanol → Methyl acetate
Methanol attacks an acid-activated carbonyl; proton transfers and water loss give methyl acetate. The ester oxygen linking to the methyl group comes from the alcohol.
- Acid hydrolysis: Methyl acetate → Methanol
Water adds to the protonated ester carbonyl. Proton transfer allows methanol to leave as the carbonyl reforms, producing the acid and alcohol together.
References
- PubChem Compound Summary: Methanol (CID 887)National Center for Biotechnology Information · PubChem
Identity, molecular formula, molecular weight and aliases retrieved via PUG REST on 2026-09-08.
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Methanol — melting pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/887#section=Melting-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013., p. 1106
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Methanol — boiling pointHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/887#section=Boiling-Point. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: O'Neil, M.J. (ed.). The Merck Index - An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Cambridge, UK: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2013., p. 1106
- ILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs): Methanol — densityILO-WHO International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSCs)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/887#section=Density. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred.
- Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB): Methanol — solubilityHazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Retrieved through PubChem PUG View on 2026-09-08. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/887#section=Solubility. Source value, complete property clause or compact miscibility statement retained; absent pressure, temperature or phase conditions are not inferred. Original reference: Riddick, J.A., W.B. Bunger, Sakano T.K. Techniques of Chemistry 4th ed., Volume II. Organic Solvents. New York, NY: John Wiley and Sons., 1985., p. V2: 190
- A test to distinguish between ethanol and methanolRoyal Society of Chemistry · RSC Education
Source-supported qualitative reference observations.