- Methanol, ethanol, both propanols, and tert-butyl alcohol are completely miscible
with water.
- The remaining butyl alcohols have solubilities in water between 8.3 and 26.0 g
per 100 mL.
- The solubility of alcohols in water gradually decreases as the hydrocarbon
portion of the molecule lengthens.
11.3 IMPORTANT ALCOHOLS AND ETHERS
11.3A METHANOL
- At one time, most methanol was produced by the destructive distillation of wood
(i.e., heating wood to a high temperature in the absence of air) ⇒ “wood alcohol”.
- Today, most methanol is prepared by the catalytic hydrogenation of carbon
monoxide.
CO + 2 H 2 300-^400
oC
200-300 atm
ZnO-Cr 2 O 3
CH 3 OH
- Methanol is highly toxic ⇒ ingestion of small quantities of methanol can cause
blindness; large quantities cause death.
- Methanol poisoning can also occur by inhalation of the vapors or by prolonged
exposure to the skin.
11.3B ETHANOL
- Ethanol can be made by fermentation of sugars, and it is the alcohol of all
alcoholic beverages.
- Sugars from a wide variety of sources can be used in the preparation of alcoholic
beverages.
- Often, these sugars are from grains ⇒ “grain alcohol”.
