270 CONSIDERATION OF CARBON COMPOUNDS. 



Monatomic normal alcohols of the general composition, C n H on+1 HO 

 or C n H 2n + 2 0. 



67 



78 



97 

 115 

 132 

 150 

 168 

 186 

 204 



50 1 



79 }- Fusing-point. 

 85 j 



Methyl alcohol, CH 3 HO (Methyl hydrate, Methylic alcohol, Wood- 

 spirit, Wood naphtha}. Methyl alcohol is one of the many pro- 

 ducts obtained by the destructive distillation of wood. When 

 pure it is a thin, colorless liquid, similar in smell and taste to 

 ethyl alcohol ; crude wood-spirit, which contains many impuri- 

 ties, has an offensive odor and a nauseous, burning taste. 

 Methyl alcohol mixes in all proportions with water; it dissolves 

 resins and volatile oils as freely as ethyl alcohol, and is often 

 substituted for the latter for various purposes in the arts and 

 manufacture. 



A mixture of 90 per cent, of ethyl alcohol and 10 per cent, of 

 partially purified wood-spirit is sold in England by licensed 

 dealers under the name of methylated spirit; no internal revenue 

 tax is paid on this mixture, which is unfit for human con- 

 sumption, but answers well for most purposes for which common 

 alcohol is otherwise used. 



Ethyl alcohol, C 2 H 4 HO = 46 (Common alcohol, Ethyl hydrate, 

 Ethylic alcohol), may be obtained from ethene, C 2 H 4 , by addi- 

 tion of the elements of water, which may be accomplished by 

 agitating ethene with strong sulphuric acid, when direct combi- 

 nation takes place and ethyl sulphuric acid is formed : 



C 2 H 4 + H 2 S0 4 = C 2 H 5 HS0 4 . 



Ethene. Sulphuric Ethyl sul- 



acid. phunc acid. 



