Is CH3OH an Acid or a Base?
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The molecular formula of methanol is CH3OH. It behaves as a very weak acid when compared to water, which is neutral. It is an industrial alcohol and not for consumption. Consumption of methanol can lead to blindness.
The pKa value of CH3OH is more than 15. This is a constant that measures the amount of acidic or basic ions in a solution. The weak acidity of methanol is due to the presence of the CH3 functional group. The presence of the OH group can cause it to release OH negative ions in a solution of water. This gives it the properties of a base. Thus, CH3OH is an alcohol that can have weak acidic and basic properties as well.
