methanol

Simplest of the alcohols. It can be made by the dry distillation of wood (hence it is also known as wood alcohol), but is usually made from coal or natural gas. When pure, it is a colourless, flammable liquid with a pleasant odour, and is highly poisonous.

Methanol is used to produce methanal (formaldehyde, from which resins and plastics can be made), methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTB, a replacement for lead as an octane-booster in petrol), vinyl acetate (largely used in paint manufacture), and petrol. In 1993 Japanese engineers built an engine, made largely of ceramics, that runs on methanol. The prototype is lighter and has a cleaner exhaust than comparable metal, petrol-powered engines.