Ethanol is the alcohol that is consumed. This type of spirit is called denatured spirit. Denatured spirit is used in spirit lamps, for disinfectant effects, in wood polish, etc. Methanol is used as a major solvent for paints and varnishes. Methanol is used for making dyes, perfumes and synthetic fibbers.
Methanol is used for making formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde in turn is used for making a type of special insulator called Bakelite. Methanol is used as a replacement for petrol for environmentally friendly cars and buses. Ethanol Ethanol or ethyl alcohol is the most common of all alcohols. Colloquially when one uses the word alcohol, it is generally meant to be ethanol. Ethanol is made by fermentation of sugar or by hydration of ethene.