benzene
Sign in to saveBenzene is an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula C6H6. The benzene molecule is composed of six carbon atoms joined in a planar hexagonal ring with one hydrogen atom attached to each. As it contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms, benzene is a hydrocarbon.
AI overview
Benzene is a simple organic chemical made up of six carbon atoms arranged in a ring shape, with one hydrogen atom attached to each carbon. It's important because it's one of the most basic hydrocarbons and serves as a building block for many other chemicals and materials.
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Article
37 sectionsContents
- History
- Discovery
- Ring formula
- Nomenclature
- Early applications
- Occurrence
- Structure
- Benzene derivatives
- Production
- Catalytic reforming
- Toluene hydrodealkylation
- Toluene disproportionation
- Steam cracking
- Other methods
- Uses
- Component of gasoline
- Reactions
- Sulfonation, chlorination, nitration
- Hydrogenation
- Metal complexes
- Health effects
- Exposure to benzene
- Benzene exposure limits
- Toxicology
- Biomarkers of exposure
- Biotransformations
- Molecular toxicology
- Biological oxidation and carcinogenic activity
- Routes of exposure
- Inhalation
- Exposure from soft drinks
- Contamination of water supply
- Genocide
- See also
- Explanatory notes
- References
- External links
Benzene is an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula C6H6. The benzene molecule is composed of six carbon atoms joined in a planar hexagonal ring with one hydrogen atom attached to each. As it contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms, benzene is a hydrocarbon.
Benzene is a natural constituent of petroleum and is one of the elementary petrochemicals. Because of the cyclic continuous pi bonds between the carbon atoms and satisfying Hückel's rule, benzene is classed as an aromatic hydrocarbon. Benzene is a colorless and highly flammable liquid with a sweet smell, and is partially responsible for the aroma of gasoline. It is used primarily as a precursor to the manufacture of chemicals with more complex structures, such as ethylbenzene and cumene, of which billions of kilograms are produced annually. Although benzene is a major industrial chemical, it finds limited use in consumer items because of its toxicity. Benzene is a volatile organic compound.