Question

Intake of a small quantity of methanol can be lethal. Comment.

Answer 1

In chemistry, some chemical substance easily oxidized in the presence of oxygen. These reactions occur in the environment as well as in our bodies. Protoplasm works many functions in our body; it might be good or bad.

Complete step by step answer:
Firstly, let's discuss oxidized cells and so on.
Oxidized - When a chemical substance loses an electron to others in the presence of oxygen.
Cell - It is a structural and functional unit of a living organism. It consists of cytoplasm, protein, nucleic acid.
Methanol - It is a chemical substance that formula is $C{H_3}OH$. It's another name is methyl alcohol. It is colorless, flammable, toxic, and volatile.
Because of its toxic nature, it affects human health badly. If any person takes nearby $10ml$ methanol, it will cause blindness. Its effects begin after an hour. It can affect our body in two manners. The first one is, it affects the central nervous system and the second is, It affects the liver due to formaldehyde.
Therefore, when a human ingests methanol, it is oxidized in the liver and starts to react with cell components. Then it coagulates with protoplasm and damages the optic nerve. Thus, it becomes lethal.

Note:
Protoplasm - It is a living part of a living organism cell that is covered by a plasma membrane. Methanol is attached with the hydroxyl group, it also is known as wood alcohol. It was isolated by Robert Boyle in $1661$. It is used to convert formaldehyde, to produce hydrocarbon. It is produced from synthesis gas and biosynthesis.