What is the difference between ethanol and methanol?
Both ethanol and methanol are alcohols. Ethanol is fermented alcohol, also used as beverage alcohol, made primarily from grain but may also be made from various sources such as starch or sugar from potatoes, cheese whey, sugar cane, or even from the cellulose in plant material or waste paper. Methanol is usually made from natural gas or coal, and is also known as “wood alcohol”. Methanol is highly corrosive, more volatile than ethanol, highly toxic, should not be consumed by humans or animals, and can be damaging to plastic and rubber fuel system components (elastomers).
