What is worth knowing about the uses and properties of benzene?

It is a basic aromatic hydrocarbon. It was discovered in 1825 by the English chemist and physicist Michael Faraday, who called the liquid hydrogen bicarbide. Benzene , because that's what we're talking about, gained a lot of interest from industrialists. Currently, it is one of the raw materials most often used in industry. What is benzene? The characteristics and applications of this intermediate are presented in this article.

What is benzene?

The organic compound benzene is a solvent known in chemistry, also known as benzene. The molecular formula of benzene is: C ₆ H ₆ . For the first time, this liquid substance was isolated by the aforementioned Faraday in the reaction of compressing the lighting gas, then used in urban street lamps.

People unfamiliar with professional scientific nomenclature often confuse benzene and benzole. What is benzol and how is it different from benzene? Benzol (technical benzene) is a straw-green, flammable liquid, resulting from the degassing of coal in a gas or coking plant - it is from it that chemists obtain benzene. The physical properties of benzol and its derivatives, such as the ability to synthesize various compounds and dissolve fats, make these substances of constant interest in the industrial sector.

Benzene - chemical and physical properties

We already know what benzol is characterized by. What are the basic physical properties of benzene ?

• is a transparent liquid,
• quickly volatilizes (sublimates), creating explosive mixtures,
• has a sharp, unpleasant smell,
• poorly soluble in water,
• well soluble in ethylene, acetic acid,
• melts at 5.53°C,
• starts boiling at 80.1°C,
• the density of benzene is 0.8765 g/cm3.

What is worth knowing about the chemical properties of benzene ? When burned, it creates a tarry black flame. It is also one of the most poisonous, biocidal and fungicidal substances used in industry. When benzene vapor enters the body through the lungs, it causes narcosis, poisoning of the lungs, liver and kidneys. This carcinogenic intermediate can therefore only be used under specific laboratory or plant conditions.

The use of benzene

What is benzene used for in industry? The use of this raw material in the modern economy is significant. It is safe to say that it is one of the key chemical compounds without which it would be difficult to imagine the industry we know today. Benzene is used, among others, for the production of such plastics as:

• styrene: used for the production of rubbers, synthetic resins and polystyrenes,
• polystyrene and expanded polystyrene (necessary for the production of insulating materials: pipes, connectors, fittings, polystyrene is also used to produce polystyrene, toys, car parts),
• synthetic nylon fibers - polyamides (used to make clothing, textiles, bags, cable ties).

It is worth noting that the presence and use of benzene in industry is not limited to the production of plastics. The substance also works well as a raw material, irreplaceable in the industry:

• tires - it is with its participation that car tires and bicycle inner tubes are made,
• production of plant protection products used in agriculture (pesticides, fungicides),
• pharmaceutical industry: benzene acts as a base material in the production of certain drugs,
• printing: benzene is used to produce varnishes, resins, inks and paints.

Benzene in cosmetics, detergents and food

In modern industry, benzene and its physico-chemical properties are now used on a large scale in the production of detergents. What everyday products contain this solvent? These are mainly liquids, aerosols, pastes, powders for washing and cleaning various surfaces, used both in households and on a larger scale by companies and institutions. The benzene in the detergent helps to break down grease particles and facilitates the maintenance of floors, walls, fittings, etc.

As a substance recognized by the scientific community as harmful and toxic, benzene in food and cosmetics. However, it is worth knowing that producers of cosmetics, beverages and other products like to use a preservative - sodium benzoate (on labels it is called: E211). Under the influence of light and heat, when food products are improperly stored, the substance reacts with vitamin C, resulting in the formation of benzene.

Facts and myths: benzene in car air conditioning, benzene and leukemia

Benzene is a substance about which there is a lot of conflicting information. On the Internet, you can find, among other things, advice that shows that after entering a hot car, you should not turn on the air conditioning, because it may cause benzene poisoning. Is it true? Yes and no. It is worth remembering that benzene, as a raw material used in the production of plastics, can sublimate at high temperatures - turn into gas. As a gas, however, benzene is heavier than air, so it sinks to the floor. An effective way to avoid contact with benzene is to thoroughly ventilate the vehicle and open the windows in the first minutes of driving.

Can benzene cause leukemia? The answer is yes, if a person is constantly exposed to this toxic substance and its vapors. The likelihood of developing symptoms of bone marrow poisoning increases in those people who improperly use personal protective equipment or reach for low-quality food and cosmetic products of unknown origin.

Sources:

http://www.ichpw.pl/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2-koksownictwo.pdf

https://encyklopedia.pwn.pl/haslo/benzene;3876116.html

https://www.ptfarm.pl/pub/File/acta_pol_2009/b_2008/3a_2008/BROMAT%203%20s.%20382-388.pdf