Benzene

Benzene Latest News

Two centuries after Benzene discovery, the simple yet revolutionary molecule benzene continues to shape our world.  

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.

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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