Methanol is a type of alcohol that is commonly used as a fuel and solvent. It is also used in the production of formaldehyde, which is used in the production of plastics, resins, and other materials. Methanol is more acidic than water due to the presence of a methyl group and the difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen.


Methanol is more acidic than water because the carbon in the methyl group is less electronegative than the oxygen in water. The electronegativity of an atom refers to its ability to attract electrons towards itself. Oxygen is more electronegative than carbon, so the electron pair in the O-H bond of methanol is more strongly attracted to the oxygen atom than to the carbon atom. This means that the proton (H+) is more likely to dissociate from the O-H bond in methanol than in water.


The presence of the methyl group in methanol also contributes to its acidity. The methyl group is an electron-donating group, meaning it donates electrons to the O-H bond. This makes the bond weaker and more likely to dissociate, increasing the acidity of methanol.


In conclusion, methanol is more acidic than water due to the difference in electronegativity between carbon and oxygen and the presence of the electron-donating methyl group. This makes it a stronger acid than water and is the reason why it is commonly used in industrial processes as a solvent and fuel.