Methanol is the simplest alcohol and has a wide variety of uses in making other chemicals either as a precursor or as a solvent. It is commonly converted into formaldehyde and from there into many industries including textile, paints, and explosives. Methanol is used as an additive to gasoline, as a denaturant for ethanol, in antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid, and even has use as an energy carrier for some applications.