Question

Common name of methanol
(A) Volemitol
(B) Wood Spirit
(C) Rubbing Alcohol
(D) Xylitol

Answer 1

Hint: Methanol has the chemical formula \[C{{H}_{3}}OH\] and is also known as methyl alcohol. The destructive distillation of wood was once chiefly used for the production of Methanol. Therefore, methanol is the alcohol produced from wood.

Complete Solution :
1. As stated in the hint, since methanol was once produced by destructive distillation of wood, it is known as wood spirit.
2. Volemitol is a seven carbon sugar alcohol that occurs naturally. It’s IUPAC name is (2R, 3R, 5R, 6R) – heptane – 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 – heptol.
3. Xylitol is a chemical compound with the formula \[{{C}_{5}}{{H}_{12}}{{O}_{5}}\] Or \[HO{{\left( CHOH \right)}_{3}}OH\]. It is a naturally occurring alcohol found in most plant material including many fruits and vegetables. It is extracted from birch wood to make medicine.
4. Isopropyl alcohol with IUPAC name propan – 2 – ol (or isopropanol) is commonly called rubbing alcohol. Its chemical formula is \[{{C}_{3}}{{H}_{8}}O\] or \[{{\left( C{{H}_{3}} \right)}_{2}}CHOH\].
So, the correct answer is “Option B”.

Note: 1. All four options given here are alcohols, so one should be very clear in mind and not get confused.
2. Methanol is a light, volatile, colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive odor similar to that of ethanol. Hence, we should not confuse between methanol and ethanol.
3. For large scale production of methanol, carbon monoxide is made to react with hydrogen in the presence of \[C{{r}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}\] and \[Zn{{O}_{3}}\].
\[CO+{{H}_{2}}\xrightarrow[ZnC{{O}_{3}}]{C{{r}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}}C{{H}_{3}}OH\]
4. Methyl alcohol can be fatal in even very small quantities. It is increasingly common as a fuel for factories.