On the structure of methyl alcohol at room temperature

Abstract

Methyl alcohol has been examined at room temperature by means of x-ray diffraction technique. The radial distribution curve straightforwardly shows O ⋅⋅⋅ O interactions at about 2.8 Å, which indicate that extensive hydrogen bonding is occurring in liquid methanol. The other prominent peaks of the radial curve fulfill the zig–zag chain model found in solid methanol. A direct analysis of the structure function leads to the conclusion that the average number of nearest oxygen neighbors per oxygen atom lies between 1.40 and 1.55. On the contrary, no unique conclusion, as far as the shape of the chain is concerned, can be obtained through the x-ray scattering data.