34 METHYL ALCOHOL. 



rated, and by means of repeated distillations over 

 quicklime, the alcohol is purified. 



Or, volatile methyl oxalate is prepared from com- 

 mercial wood spirit by mixing the wood spirit gradu- 

 ally with its own weight of concentrated sulphuric 

 acid and distilling the brown mixture over two parts 

 by weight of finely powdered acid potassium oxalate. 

 At first a combustible liquid passes over, which, on be- 

 ing evaporated gently, leaves the oxalic ether behind, 

 then the principal part of the ether passes over and 

 congeals in a crystalline form. By pressing and allow- 

 ing it to stand over sulphuric acid, or by continued 

 fusing, it is obtained pure. By boiling with water or 

 caustic potassa, the alcohol is obtained from the ether. 



Properties. A limpid, colorless liquid, of a pecu- 

 liar odor, similar to that of spirits of wine, and a 

 pungent taste; specific gravity, 0.798; boiling point, 

 60-65; combustible; miscible with water, alcohol, 

 and ether. Combines with anhydrous baryta, and 

 with calcium chloride, forming crystalline compounds 

 which are easily decomposed by water. Potassium 

 and sodium are dissolved by it, the action being 

 accompanied by an evolution of hydrogen, and the 

 formation of potassium and sodium methylate, CH 3 KO, 

 readily crystallizing compounds. 



DERIVATIVES OF METHYL ALCOHOL. 



These are perfectly analogous to the derivatives of 

 ethyl alcohol, and are formed from methyl alcohol 

 in the same manner as those from ethyl alcohol. As 

 the corresponding ethyl compounds are of greater im- 

 portance and generally better investigated, they will 

 be treated of more in detail in the following section, 

 and only a few of the more important methyl com- 

 pounds will be here described. 



Methyl chloride, CH 3 C1. Is formed by the action 

 of chlorine on marsh gas, and of hydrochloric acid on 

 methyl alcohol. Colorless gas, with an ethereal odor ; 

 condensable at 22. 



