The Physical Effects between Ethanol and Methanol - Essay Example

The paper studies the physical effects between ethanol and methanol. Ethanol is the main ingredient of fermented beverages and also distilled alcoholic drinks. People who ingest ethanol experience an intoxication feeling.

However, consumers of ethanol can vomit or suffer from alcohol poisoning after taking large volumes of the substance. On the contrary, methanol must never be inhaled, ingested, or in contact with the skin. Small doses of the substance are very harmful. Ingesting small doses can highly cause blindness, and in worse scenarios be fatal. Ethanol is used in the production of alcoholic beverages. This is due to its intoxicating effects. The substance is also utilized as a category of alternative fuel. The alternative fuel is mainly produced using sugarcane and corn by-products.

Specially designed cars, mostly in the United States, utilize approximately 85% ethanol fuel. Ethanol fuel is also used in rocket fuel. Antiseptic characteristics of the substance ensure its usage in the production of hand gels and antibacterial wipes. Ethanol is a good solvent, hence greatly used as a base for different categories of paints and perfumes (Smith & Snyder, 2008). On the other hand, methanol is mainly used in the generation of other chemicals like formaldehyde. The substance is very desirable as fuel for stunt and race vehicles.

This is because it is not as flammable as gasoline, and water can distinguish its flame easily. Small quantities of methanol are used in the manufacture of denatured alcohol, plus also the production of solvents. The two substances react differently with water. Ethanol and water easily combine to produce a homogeneous solution; hence miscible in water. But methanol breaks down in the water and is hence soluble. Methanol has the chemical formula CH3OH. The substance is produced through a catalytic industrial process, involving hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.

Methanol reacts with oxygen to generate carbon dioxide and water. The industrial production of ethanol is through the fermentation process of sugars and yeasts. The structural formula of ethanol is CH3CH2OH. In some cases, ethanol is abbreviated as EtOH through the basic organic chemistry symbol that illustrates the ethyl group C2H2, likewise, methanol is illustrated as MeOH (Blum, 2011).