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Benzene is a colorless liquid with a sweet odor. It is very flammable.
In the last century, benzene was obtained by heating the coal to make coke. Today benzene is obtained mainly from petroleum.
Formerly used - as solvent in the laboratory - for decaffeinated coffee - to dissolve paints - as a stain remover and cleaner - in the manufacture of rubbers - as an additive to improve gasoline octane
Today used in the chemical industry as raw material for the manufacture of
- polystyrene:
polystyrene
- polycarbonates
polycarbonate bottle
- epoxy resins
epoxy glue
- phenolic resins
bakelite phone
- nylon (polyamide)
nylon
Very dangerous substance: - His breathing leads to headaches, dizziness, and death. - Long term exposure damages the spinal cord (leading to anemia) and further the immune system leading to infections. - Its carcinogenic properties are proven. It causes especially leukemia.
The benzene is substituted in many applications by toluene (methylbenzene), less hazardous:
toluene