MCQ Detailed View

Methanol (CH₃OH) is the simplest alcohol and an important industrial chemical. It can be obtained from different sources depending on historical methods and modern industrial processes.

The earliest method for producing methanol was the destructive distillation of wood. In this process, wood is heated strongly in the absence of air, causing it to break down into gases, tar, and liquids. One of the liquids collected is crude methanol, which is why methanol was historically known as wood spirit or wood alcohol.

In the modern chemical industry, the most important route for methanol production is from water gas, which is a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H₂). In the presence of a catalyst such as ZnO–Cr₂O₃ or Cu–ZnO–Al₂O₃ at high pressure and temperature, carbon monoxide reacts with hydrogen to give methanol. This process is highly efficient and is the main source of methanol worldwide today.

Methanol can also be obtained from methane (CH₄), the main component of natural gas. Through catalytic oxidation, methane reacts with oxygen to form methanol under controlled conditions. This method is significant in regions where natural gas is abundant.

Each method has contributed to methanol’s availability and industrial importance. Historically, destructive distillation of wood introduced methanol, while the modern catalytic process using water gas dominates commercial production. Methane-based synthesis provides an additional route.

Methanol is widely used as a solvent, antifreeze, and fuel. It also serves as a raw material for making formaldehyde, acetic acid, and many synthetic chemicals. Due to its versatility, methanol is considered a key compound in organic chemistry and industrial manufacturing.

Thus, methanol can be obtained from water gas, destructive distillation of wood, and methane, making “All” the correct answer.