On 5 Feb, 2004, at 2:39, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
<x-tad-smaller>For anyone who knows about chemistry or knows a chemist</x-tad-smaller>
<x-tad-smaller> ������ We had a discussion today in chemistry and I can get bonus points if someone would explain to me what will happen if wood is heated in a vacuum without oxygen.�
</x-tad-smaller>
You get 'spirit of wood', or methanol. One of the primary dry distillation products (anoxic degradation by heat) from wood, and once a major source of methanol. The lignin (complex sugars, consisting of C, H and O) will break down into small, energetically favourable units with the 'same' basic overall constitution, hence methanol and some related compounds.
<x-tad-smaller>possible to melt wood.�
</x-tad-smaller>
ANd no, it won't melt ;-)
<x-tad-smaller>
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