Externally methanol (technical alcohol) is very similar to ethyl alcohol. It has approximately the same density and coefficient of a refraction (ability to refract sunshine). Has the same smell and color. In vitro to distinguish methanol from ethanol will not make big there. In house conditions it is more difficult to make it. However there are several ways to distinguish ethyl alcohol from methyl and without the difficult equipment.
It is required to you
- - metal capacity (mug, Turk, etc.),
- - copper wire,
- - the gas burner (the household gas stove will approach),
- - thermometer,
- - transparent ware (glass),
- - potassium permanganate.
Instruction
1. The first way. Put the metal container with test liquid on the burning gas burner (plate).
2. Take the thermometer temperature at which liquid will begin to start to boil. Methanol boils approximately at 64 OS, ethanol - about 78 wasps.
3. The second way. Twist a small spiral from a copper wire. It is necessary for increase in a surface of contact of copper and test liquid.
4. Make a copper wire white-hot, and it is better – to blackness: it is that degree of heat when on a surface of a wire copper oxide begins to be formed.
5. Dip the heated wire into the prepared container with test liquid.
6. Smell: if appeared aroma of rotten apples is an ethanol. If arose sharp, unpleasant and irritating mucous began to smell - it is methanol.
7. The third way. Pour test liquid in transparent ware.
8. Add a little potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) to test liquid.
9. If in liquid there were vials of gas - it is methanol. If there are no bubbles and began to smell vinegar - it is ethanol.