Methylate spirit (ethyl alcohol containing a small amount of methyl alcohol) is used fo rcleaning the wooden furnitue of doors windows etc. becore polishing them. Quite often, some incident are reported where people die due to drinking of this spirit. This is inspite of the fact that copper sulphate is added to it which gives it a blue colour to give a warning that it is not meant for drinking.
After reading the above paragraph, answer the questions :
Why is methylate spirit poisonous ?

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Methylated Spirit Composition**: Methylated spirit, also known as denatured alcohol, primarily consists of ethyl alcohol (ethanol) and a small amount of methyl alcohol (methanol).

2. **Identifying the Toxic Component**: The key toxic component in methylated spirit is methyl alcohol (methanol). While ethanol is safe for consumption in moderate amounts, methanol is highly toxic.

3. **Mechanism of Toxicity**: When methanol is ingested, it is metabolized in the liver to formaldehyde and then to formic acid. Both of these metabolites are highly toxic and can cause severe metabolic acidosis, damage to the optic nerve, and can ultimately lead to death.

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