METHYL

Meth″yl (?), n. [[See Methylene.]] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon radical, CH3, not existing alone but regarded as an essential residue of methane, and appearing as a component part of many derivatives; as, methyl alcohol, methyl ether, methyl amine, etc. [Formerly written also methule, methyle, etc.] Methyl alcohol (Chem.), a light, volatile, inflammable liquid, CH3.OH, obtained by the distillation of wood, and hence called wood spirit; — called also methol, carbinol, etc. — Methyl amine (Chem.), a colorless, inflammable, alkaline gas, CH3.NH2, having an ammoniacal, fishy odor. It is produced artificially, and also occurs naturally in herring brine and other fishy products. It is regarded as ammonia in which a third of its hydrogen is replaced by methyl, and is a type of the class of substituted ammonias. — Methyl ether (Chem.), a light, volatile ether CH3.O.CH3, obtained by the etherification of methyl alcohol; — called also methyl oxide. — Methyl green. (Chem.) See under Green, n. — Methyl orange. (Chem.) See Helianthin. — Methyl violet (Chem.), an artificial dye, consisting of certain methyl halogen derivatives of rosaniline.