Why is it ethyl alcohol cannot be replaced by methyl alcohol?

Answer 1

If you are mean why methyl alcohol can't be used in beverages then the answers has to do in part with how the body processes alcohols.

The body processes ethyl alcohol into substances that are not particularly harmful and can be easily metabolized.

The body processes methyl alcohol into formaldehyde, which is toxic and carcinogenic and formic acid, which disrupts the pH of the body.

Additionally ingestion of methyl alcohol damages the optic nerve, causing permanent blindness.

Answer 2

If swallowed, it can cause blindness due to it degrading the optic nerve, which is its most infamous attribute. In larger doses, in can cause death. The other issue is that it can be absorbed through the skin. It must be handled with proper gloves and under proper supervision. Another important factor is that due to the way the body processes alcohols methyl alcohol will first be processed first into formaldehyde, which is a potent toxin, and then into formic acid, which can lower blood pH.

Answer 3

No, also ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is toxic. At blood concentration level of 0.05% you get drunk enough not to drive a car. At 1% you will get comateous!

But I'll have to agree that methanol is even more toxic, though in a different way.

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Although the above answer is correct in every way, it is not just "even more toxic" is lethal in concentrations as little as 50ml (though rarely less than 100ml). It can cause permenent blindness from levels as little as 10ml in a light / small framed person.

The reason is not that methanol itself is directly toxic so much as the metabolites it makes when it breaks down are so harmful. When methanol is broken down, two of the "by products" are formic acid and formaldehyde. Formaldehyde / formalin is normally used for preserving specimens - including embalming bodies. It is this which attacks the optic nerve and causes irreversible blindness. Death occurs if too much formaldehyde converts to formic acid as this causes hypoxia (lack of oxygen) due to mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase being inhibited. Can also cause metabolic acidosis.

Methanol is almost undetctable from ethanol to taste though methanol is VERY slightly sweet.

Methanol is the simplest of the alcohols - and one to avoided so much that even contact on unprotected skin is ill advised - it can be absorbed. Although contact with methanol with just skin contact is unlikely to lead to death, prolonged contact may allow enough to be taken into the system to be hazardous to vision. Methanol really is much more toxic than most folks appreciate.

Another alcohol which is far less toxic is isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) - no blindess or other nastnyess but it tasts a bit grim and ml per ml, is about twice as harmful to the human body as ethanol. By comparison to methanol though, IPA is fairly harmless - can be used neat to wipe down food-prep surfaces.

Answer 4

Ethyl alcohol is toxic, just not as much as other alcohols. Excessive drinking of alcohol can be fatal and chronic drinking often results in liver damage. Alcohols in the body are processed first into aldedhydes or ketones, and the aldehydes are then processed into carboxylic acids. Ethyl alcohol is first processed into acetaldehyde and then into acetic acid, the active component of vinegar. Acetic acid is easily metabolized by the body.

Answer 5

Methanol is a toxic compound.