Benzene - Structure, Properties, Benzene Derivatives, Uses, Health Issues
organic compound carbon
Benzene is an aromatic organic compound with the molecular formula C6H6. Credit for its discovery and identification in 1825 is usually given to the English chemist and physicist Michael Faraday.
Benzene is a clear, colorless, highly flammable liquid with a pronounced characteristic odor. It has a freezing point of 41.9°F (5.5°C), a boiling point of 176.2°F (80.1°C), and a density of 0.8787 g/mL. It is only slightly soluble in water (0.18 g/100 mL at 77°F [25°C]), but is completely miscible with alcohol, chloroform, ether, carbon disulfide, carbon tetrachloride, and other organic solvents. Benzene is not to be confused with benzine, which is not a pure chemical compound but a mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons used as a solvent and a fuel.
Additional Topics
The structure of the benzene molecule proved to be a challenge for chemists for more than 40 years after the compound's discovery by Faraday. Its formula suggests the existence of multiple double and/or triple carbon-carbon bonds, because there are too few hydrogen atoms for six single-bonded carbon atoms. However, benzene exhibits none of the chemical properties associated with such a stru…
Benzene occurs so abundantly in and is obtained so easily from coal tar and petroleum that there is virtually no reason to make it synthetically. Although benzene had been recognized as a component of petroleum for many years, it was not produced commercially from that source until the beginning of World War II. …
Benzene is used as a solvent in many commercial, industrial, and research operations. It has long been of interest as a fuel because of its high octane number. Some manufacturers, particularly in Europe, have used it as a gasoline additive to increase engine efficiency and to improve starting qualities. By far the most important use of benzene, however, is in the production of other aromatic compo…
The health risks associated with exposure to benzene have been known for many years. The compound has both chronic and acute effects whether ingested by mouth, taken in through the respiratory system, or absorbed through the skin. Acute effects resulting from inhalation include irritation of the mucous membranes, headache, instability, euphoria, convulsions, excitement or depression, and unconscio…
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