difference between ethyl alcohol and methyl alcohol
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Difference Between Ethanol and Methanol
Ethanol and methanol are two types of alcohols and even though they sound and look similar there are lot of differences between ethanol and methanol.
ChemistryChemical Compound FormulasDifference Between Ethanol And Methanol
Difference Between Ethanol and Methanol
Ethanol and methanol are just two kinds of alcohols. Ethanol, that is also known as ethyl alcohol falls with the chemical structure with two carbon atoms. While methanol, also known as methyl alcohol is composed of only one carbon atom. Ethanol is usually produced by combining an ethyl group
CH3CH2 to a hydroxyl group (-OH).
Its formula is given as CH3CH2OH
Methanol is prepared by combining a methyl group
CH3 to a hydroxyl group (-OH). It is represented as CH3OH
While the carbon number is the main difference between ethanol and methanol, these two feature some similarities. They both sound similar and are colorless liquids. So, they can be confused easily. However, methanol and ethanol are different types of alcohol or chemicals. They do have other different properties as well as uses.
Differences between Ethanol and Methanol
Now that we know a bit about the two alcohols, let’s dive into the differences between ethanol and methanol.
Difference between Ethanol and MethanolEthanol is a type of alcohol with its carbon skeleton consisting of an ethyl group. Methanol consists of in its carbon bond methyl group.
Ethanol is a poor acid compared with water, in terms of acidity. Methanol is higher acidic than water
Ethanol has a heavy, burning smell and emits bright blue flame. Methanol is unpredictable and has a characteristic odour. When burning it gives off light white flame.
Ethanol is typically prepared by the fermentation of food crops from factories. Methanol is manufactured mainly by synthetic processes.
Ethanol is the primary ingredient of alcoholic beverages. Since methanol is highly poisonous it is not appropriate for use at all. Generally used in the manufacturing of products such as formaldehyde etc.
These are some of the differences between ethanol and methanol. To know more about alcohols or important differences between similar products and other chemistry topics, you can keep visiting BYJU’S or download our app for interesting content and learning experience.
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Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
Name a test that can be used to distinguish ethanol from methanol?
Iodoform test is used to distinguish ethanol from methanol.
Is methanol toxic?
Yes, methanol is toxic. It can cause permanent blindness, central nervous system poisoning, coma, and even death if ingested more than 10g in quantity.
Is ethanol toxic?
Yes, ethanol is toxic. It can cause liver damage, central nervous system breakage, coma and even death if ingested in large quantity. However, ethanol is commonly used in alcohols.
What is denatured alcohol?
Denatured alcohol is ethanol with additives to make it poisonous, bad-tasting, foul-smelling, or nauseating to discourage its recreational consumption. Pyridine and methanol are added to ethanol to denature it.
What are the similarities between ethanol and methanol?
Ethanol and methanol are just two kinds of alcohol. Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol, falls within the chemical structure of two carbon atoms. While methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, is composed of only one carbon atom.
Related Links:Identification and Conversion of Alcohols Physical and Chemical Properties of Alcohols
Alcohol Hydroxyl group Uses of Methanol and Ethanol in Everyday Life
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Ethanol and Methanol
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Methanol and ethanol are alcohol variants. Methanol contains only one carbon and ethanol contains two carbon in each molecule. Both substances can be used as energy sources, but methanol primarily serves as a research subject, and its use as a motor fuel has been mostly phased out in the United States. The position of ethanol is greater, although its future as an automotive fuel is still unclear. Both of them may sound similar, look similar and even both are alcohol but that is where its similarity ends. There are some very significant differences and they have different characteristics, applications, and effects. Mistaking the two may have very negative effects, potentially.
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Methanol
Made up of a methyl group attached with a hydroxy also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol. It's milder, sweeter than ethanol with a distinctive odor. It is colorless and volatile. Consumption of methanol is toxic and can cause blindness. It is widely used in the manufacture of acetic acid and formaldehyde.
Ethanol
It is a colorless liquid and a principal ingredient in alcoholic beverages like wine, beer, etc. Ethanol is also known as ethyl alcohol. Ethanol is also an ingredient in a range of products, from personal care and beauty products to paints and varnishes to fuel, as it can readily dissolve in water and other organic compounds. Currently, the most widespread use of ethanol is as a gasoline additive. Manufacturing of solvents, plastics, medications, perfumes, antibacterial gels, and cosmetics are other industrial applications.
Properties of Ethanol and Methanol
The two chemicals have very similar characteristics. Ethanol is a clear, colorless, flammable, and explosive liquid solvent that has a distinctive odor that creates smokeless blue flames that do not always appear under natural light and evaporate when they are burning in an open container. Likely, methanol, with a distinctive smell similar to that of ethanol, is volatile, colorless, flammable liquid. The distinction between methanol and ethanol is that the flame is light white and not light blue when methanol is burnt.
Uses
Methanol:
It is used in the production of methylamines and methylamines.
Used as an additive to reduce the freezing point of liquids.
Widely used in the production of acetic acid and formaldehyde.
Ethanol:
Used as an antiseptic and as a disinfectant.
Widely used as a solvent due to its ability to dissolve both polar and nonpolar compounds.
Commonly used in beauty and cosmetic products.
Solved Examples
1. How can Methanol and Ethanol be distinguished?
Ans: The iodoform test is used to distinguish between Methanol and Ethanol. As ethanol is warmed with iodine in the presence of NaOH, it produces a yellow-colored precipitate but methanol does not react positively to the Iodoform test.
2. Why is Methanol Dangerous?
Ans: It is extremely poisonous and flammable. It causes permanent blindness through optic nerve damage, central nervous system poisoning, coma, and likely death if ingested directly more than 10g in quantity. Such threats are often observed while vapors of methanol are inhaled.
3. Is Ethanol Dangerous?
Ans: While ethanol is used extensively, it is a hazardous chemical. It is extremely flammable and as such, it has precise flashpoints that are important to consider when using it. Although ethanol is consumed when alcoholic drinks are taken, the ingestion of pure ethanol alone can cause coma and death.
4. Does Fructose Cause Diabetes?
Ans: Fructose does not increase blood glucose and does not require insulin, and it can also be handled better by people with diabetes than other sugars. In reality, studies indicate that in individuals with diabetes, small amounts of oral fructose may improve glycemic control.
Methanol vs. Ethanol Chemically
Chemists have made their life considerably simpler by establishing a standard vocabulary for describing molecules, ensuring that everyone knows what they are talking about. The name of a molecule describes the number of carbons it contains. According to Chemistry School, the prefixes "meth-" and "eth-" in chemistry refer to the number of carbon atoms in the molecule's root chain. The suffix "-ol" appears at the end of the names of chemicals of the alcohol family.
Methanol has the chemical formula CH3OH and has one carbon in its root chain., which means it has one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms, one of which is bonded to an oxygen. Ethane's chemical formula is C2H5OH, which means it has two carbon atoms in its root chain and six hydrogen atoms outside of it, one of which is bonded to oxygen.
Ethanol is sometimes known as ethyl alcohol, however, this is a technical word for what is usually known as "alcohol" in the form of spirits, whiskey, wine, beer, and other beverages. It is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage. Methyl alcohol is another name for methanol. Methanol is used as a solvent, a raw ingredient in the manufacture of compounds such as formaldehyde, and for cleaning metals, according to Britannica. Drinking methanol is clearly a poor idea.
Difference Between Ethanol and Methanol
What is the difference between Ethanol and Methanol? Ethanol is the alcohol found in beverages. Methanol is highly toxic and not suitable for consumption.
Difference Between Ethanol and Methanol
January 4, 2016by admin4 min read
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Main Difference – Ethanol vs Methanol
Ethanol and methanol are the two simplest forms of alcohols in organic chemistry. Alcohol is a class of molecules which has an ending with a –OH group. Alcohols take a primary role in organic chemical reactions and its level of reactivity changes depending on the carbon skeleton and additional groups within the alcohol structure. Ethanol stands for Ethyl Alcohol, which signifies that the Carbon skeleton is made of two Carbon atoms, whereas methanol stands for Methyl Alcohol, which signifies that the Carbon skeleton is made of one Carbon atom only. This is the main difference between Ethanol and Methanol.
What is Ethanol
As mentioned above, ethanol is chemically made by the joining of an ethyl group (CH3CH2-) to a hydroxide group (-OH) and, therefore, forming CH3CH2OH as its chemical formula. It is also abbreviated as EtOH. Ethanol is volatile and highly flammable. It mixes completely with water due to the formation of Hydrogen bonds. Similarly, ethanol is able to mix with other alcohols as well. Furthermore, it is a colourless liquid with a slight chemical odour. Apart from its numerous number of reactions with other organic solvents, ethanol also acts as a weak acid. However, its acidity is weaker than that of water. And in return, an ethoxide ion becomes more basic than a hydroxide ion.
Ethanol is the principal alcohol found in alcoholic beverages and is produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeast. Ethanol causes drowsiness and intoxication once ingested. It is used for many industrial purposes such as; an antiseptic, a medicinal solvent, a chemical solvent, an engine fuel, as a rocket fuel, for household heating, etc.
What is Methanol
As mentioned in the introduction, methanol is also called methyl alcohol and it is made by the joining of a methyl group (CH3-) to a hydroxide group (-OH) thereby forming CH3OH as its chemical formula. However, it is often abbreviated as MeOH. It’s also known as ‘wood alcohol’ as it was once produced as a by-product through the distillation of woods. But today, methanol is mostly produced synthetically through catalysis from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen. Methanol is the simplest alcohol found in chemistry and is volatile and flammable. It is also colourless and has a smell similar to ethanol. Methanol is able to form hydrogen bonds with water and also with other alcohols making it possible to mix well with them. Comparing with ethanol, the acidity of methanol is higher, also slightly higher than that of water.
Methanol is highly toxic and hence is not fit for human consumption. When ingested into the body, methanol first breaks down into formaldehyde, and then to form formic acid and its salts which are considered highly toxic to the human body. Methanol is mainly used as a feedstock for the production of chemicals. It is also used as an engine fuel; i.e. in high-performance cars such as sprint cars or stunt cars methanol is used in pure form. Methanol is also an essential laboratory solvent which is heavily used in techniques such as HPLC.
Difference Between Ethanol and Methanol
Definition
Ethanol is the alcohol with an ethyl group in the Carbon skeleton.Methanol is the alcohol with a methyl group in the Carbon skeleton.
Acidity
Ethanol is a weaker acid than water.Methanol has a level of acidity slightly higher than that of water.
Alcoholic Beverages
Ethanol is the alcohol found in beverages.Methanol is highly toxic and not suitable for consumption.
Mode of Production
Ethanol is produced by the fermentation of sugars by yeast.Methanol is mostly produced synthetically through catalysis from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen.
Toxicity
Ethanol can cause drowsiness which get naturally balanced off by the natural bodily mechanisms.An amount less than half a teaspoon of a methanol is able to cause blindness.
Image Courtesy:
“Ethanol-3D-balls” (Public Domain) via Wikimedia Commons
“Methoxide-3D-balls” by Ben Mills and Jynto – Derived from File:Methanol-3D-balls.png. (Public Domain) via Commons
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