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methanol

methanol

17 6.5
A light poisonous alcohol used as fuel, solvent, and antifreeze
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛθənɔl/
translation icon : metanol
  • However, experts are divided on the relative environmental benefits of methanol and conventional gasoline.
  • methanol for gasoline
  • methanol-fueled
  • methanol vehicle

It's two amino acids and it gets metabolized into phenylalanine and aspartate and then methanol, whichever, right?

Examples

  • Another infrastructure option would use methanol as a hydrogen carrier.

    Academic text (2000)
  • So we start with canola oil and mix it with methanol and a strong base, in this case potassium hydroxide.

  • Moreover, it is less efficient to produce methanol from natural gas than to produce hydrogen from natural gas.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The hazardous chemical most released to the air in 1997 was methanol, with air emissions of 194.4 million pounds.

    Academic text (2001)
  • By far, the most economical of the vehicles are those that run on methanol and CNG.

    Academic text (1993)
  • The administration's proposal showed a pronounced bias for methanol, an alcohol fuel typically made from coal or natural gas.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Ballard is working with General Motors to produce a liquid-methanol-fueled automotive fuel cell.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The final step of the reaction is the elimination of the methanol molecule and the regeneration of the enzyme.

    Academic text (2001)
  • The dried residue was washed with methanol to remove endogenous nitrate and nitrite salts.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Methanol is often used as an antifreeze in various industrial applications.

Synonyms

wood alcohol
vsmethanol
  • Archaic
1 7.1

A poisonous, flammable liquid once made from wood that people use as fuel or solvent

is the general modern name not stressing historical production
methyl alcohol
vsmethanol
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A poisonous clear liquid that burns easily and is used to stop freezing, to dissolve things, and as fuel

is the widely used chemical name instead of this variant
carbinol
vsmethanol
  • Archaic
8.5

A simple toxic alcohol used as a solvent and fuel

is the common name rather than the alternative scientific term
wood spirit
vsmethanol
  • Specialized
9.4

A poisonous alcohol people make by heating wood, used as fuel or solvent

is the usual modern term rather than the historical expression

Surface Forms

methanol singular
methanols plural

Morphology

methanol = meth + anol

The components 'meth' and 'anol' do not correspond to standalone English words, making the word opaque for learners.

Etymology

Methanol comes from methyl, the name for a 'one-carbon' part, as in methane, and the ending -ol, which marks an 'alcohol'. So methanol means the simplest alcohol made from one carbon, which helps explain why it is a light liquid that burns easily and is used as a fuel and to dissolve other materials.