Methanol

=Methanol= = Shalia Wallace, Jasmine Gladden, Trevor Hinton, Delesha Jackson = = = =Video website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACNLhd8W_BM= =Background Info [Shalia Wallace] = Methanol is the simplest alcohol compound. It’s comprised of one carbon atom, one oxygen atom and four hydrogen atoms (CH3OH). It is also referred to as wood alcohol, carbinol and methyl alcohol. It is poisonous, flammable and relatively volatile. It has no taste or color, but it does have a slight scent. Methanol is used as a fuel and an antifreeze, and to make formaldehyde. Methanol was first discovered in 1661, though it had been used without isolation by peoples as far back as the Egyptians in their embalming processes. Methanol is relatively cheap to produce, can be manufactured with little or no waste, is efficient to store and can be made from sources other than fossil fuels. =Abstract:= Jasmine Gladden

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Methanol is a liquid that may explode when exposed to an open flame. Methanol is also a product of decaying organic material. Companies add methanol to paint strippers, aerosol spray paints, wall paint, carburetor cleaners, and car windshield washer products. Methanol evaporates from water and soil exposed to the air. Plants and animals are less likely to store methanol. Methanol by itself is not likely to cause environmental harm at levels normally found in the environment.======

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For the PSA we had to look at Methanol and how it's created and produced. We also looked at how it can affect the health of humans do to the intake of the liquid. Methanol can cause blindness,dizzy spells and in some instances death; you find Methanol in wiper fluid, nail polish remover, antifreeze, and paint removers. It is very harmful to the environment causing problems with waterways if contaminated, because it is very cheap to produce little to no precautions are taken to insure the health safety of the product. Our position on this chemical is that we believe that it can be improved to insure the health of American Citizens and better the environment with eco-friendly by-products.======


 * Summary (De'Lesha)**

Methanol breaks down in the air to other chemicals. They can also break down in the water, even though it doesn’t work well in soil it can move through it and then enter groundwater. Many people die from large amounts of methanol but yet a small amount of non-lethal can adversely affect your human nervous system. Some of the effects vary headaches to incoordination similar to drunkenness, delayed effects like abdominal, leg, and back pain. And even loss of vision and even blindness. But all of this isn’t likely in the normal amounts of methanol I the environment. Some of the benefits are that it lowers emissions, higher performance and lower risk of flammability than gasoline. Also it can be manufactured from a variety of carbon-based feedstocks and the use of it would help reduce U.C dependence on imported petroleum. In my opinion it seems as though even though the costs seem to be worse than the benefits the cost of the benefit is higher. The costs of methanol have to do with it being in your system and you coming in contact with it and it being a lot. I figure if you don’t have a lot of it in your system then we can use it to help with the reduction of things the U.S needs.

= = =Citations= 1. Bozza-Marrubini M, Brucato A, Locatelli C, Ruggeroni ML, Initials. (1988, February ). Methanol. Retrieved from@http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/pim335.htm

2.Thinnes, B. (2009). Methanol industry rides out economic difficulties. Hydrocarbon Processing (International edition), 88(11), 17. Retrieved March 10, 2010, from Science Full Text Select database.

3.Dolan, G. (2007). Methanol Handling Practices. Water Environment & Technology, 19(11), 59, 61. Retrieved March 10, 2010, from Science Full Text Select database.