Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, is the simplest aliphatic alcohol (CH3OH), a colorless, highly volatile, and flammable liquid with a strong odor, used as a solvent, antifreeze, and fuel, among other applications.The term “anhydrous” in chemistry means “without water” or “water-free”. Anhydrous methanol is a form of methanol that is essentially pure, with a very low water content.