METHYL ALCOHOL. 33 



view, especially under the influence of oxidizing agents, 

 is dependent upon their constitution. They are divided 

 into primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols. 



Primary alcohols contain the group CH 2 .OH. Un- 

 der the influence of oxidizing agents they are at first 

 converted into aldehydes by the transformation of the 

 group CH 2 .OH into CHO, and then, by further oxida- 

 tion of the group CHO to COOH, into acids contain- 

 ing the same number of carbon atoms. 



Secondary alcohols contain the group CH.OH. 

 When oxidized, they are at first converted into ace- 

 tones, the group CH.OH being changed to CO. These 

 acetones, when further oxidized, are resolved into 

 simpler compounds, yielding acids with a smaller num- 

 ber of carbon atoms. 



Tertiary alcohols contain the group C.OH. They 

 are decomposed by oxidation without previous forma- 

 tion of aldehydes or acetones, and yield acids with a 

 smaller number of carbon atoms. 



Normal alcohols are the primary alcohols of nor- 

 mal hydrocarbons. 



1. Methyl Alcohol (Wood Spirit), CH 4 0=CH 3 .OIL 



Formation and Occurrence. By the destructive dis- 

 tillation of cellulose, hence contained in wood vine- 

 gar obtained by distilling wood. The volatile oil of 

 Craultheria procumbens is the methyl ether of salicylic 

 acid. Pure methyl alcohol may be obtained by distil- 

 ling this oil with a solution of potassa. 



Preparation. From wood vinegar by distilling with 

 calcium hydroxide ; only practicable on a large 

 scale. The volatile distillate which at first goes over 

 (wood spirit) contains the methyl alcohol, still, how- 

 ever, containing impurities in the form of other vola- 

 tile products. After distilling again over quicklime, 

 it is placed in contact with calcium chloride, and the 

 whole distilled on a water bath, by which process the 

 volatile impurities distil over, and the methyl alcohol 

 remains behind in combination with calcium chloride. 

 By mixing with water and distilling, these are sepa- 



