Benzene Latest News
Two centuries after Benzene discovery, the simple yet revolutionary molecule benzene continues to shape our world. Â
About Benzene
- Benzene is a colorless liquid with a sweet odor.
- Discovered by: In 1825, the English scientist Michael Faraday, isolated a new substance from the oily residue of the illuminating gas used to light London and August Kekulé proposed a revolutionary cyclic structure for benzene.
Properties of Benzene
- It evaporates into the air very quickly and dissolves slightly in water.
- It is highly flammable and is formed from both natural processes and human activities.
- Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires.
- It forms the base for styrene, phenol, cyclohexane, nylon, and polystyrene.
- It belongs to the BTEX family (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene) of so called aromatics because of their sweet, pleasant smell.
Applications of Benzene
- Some industries use benzene to make other chemicals which are used to make plastics, resins, and nylon and synthetic fibers.
- Benzene is also used to make some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides.
- Impact on Health: Long-term exposure to Benzene leads to acute myeloid leukaemia, aplastic anemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome.
Source: TH
Benzene FAQs
Q1: What is benzene classified as?
Ans: Aromatic hydrocarbon
Q2: What is a major use of benzene?
Ans: Production of plastics and synthetic fibers
