"Wood spirit " is

Methanol

The correct answer is Option (1) → Methanol

Methanol was historically produced by destructive distillation of wood. Hence, it is commonly known as wood spirit. The naming is based on its natural source rather than its chemical structure.

Explanation

Option 1: Methanol

Methanol is called wood spirit because it was first obtained from destructive distillation of wood in the absence of air. During this process, wood breaks down to produce charcoal, tar, gases, and a liquid fraction containing methanol. This historical method made methanol strongly associated with wood, giving rise to the name "wood alcohol" or "wood spirit".

Option 2: Ethanol

Ethanol is mainly produced through fermentation of sugars using yeast. It is obtained from plant sources such as grains, fruits, and sugarcane. Due to its origin, ethanol is known as grain alcohol or rectified spirit and has no connection with wood distillation.

Option 3: Propanol

Propanol is prepared synthetically from petrochemical sources such as propene through hydration reactions. It is not naturally derived from wood and has no historical or industrial link to wood distillation.

Option 4: Phenol

Phenol is obtained from coal tar or through industrial processes such as the cumene process. It was historically known as carbolic acid and is chemically very different from alcohols. It is not associated with wood distillation.