Question

Which among the following reaction(s) gives methyl alcohol?

• A. The reaction of ethylene with $H_{2}S{O}_4$ at ${80}^{\circ }C$
• B. The reaction of water gas with hydrogen at high temperature
• C. Alkaline hydrolysis of methyl bromide
• D. Destructive distillation of wood

Answer 1

Answer: (B), (C), (D)

Destructive distillation of wood

The reaction of ethylene with $H_{2}S{O}_4$ at ${80}^{\circ }$C give ethyl hydrogen sulphate.
$C{H}_2=C{H}_2+H_{2}S{O}_4\to C{H}_{3}C{H}_{2}OS{O}_{2}OH$

Water gas is used to prepare methanol.
Water gas is an equimolar mixture of $CO$ and $H_2.$ A mixture of zinc oxide and chromium oxide $(ZnO-C{r}_2{O}_3)$ converts water gas in methanol $\left(C{H}_{3}OH\right)$
Alkaline hydrolysis of methyl bromide gives methanol.
$C{H}_{3}Br+H_{2}O\to C{H}_{3}OH+HBr$

Methanol acquired name "wood spirit' because it was once produced chiefly as a product of the destructive distillation of wood.

Hence, (b), (c) and (d) are correct.