Benzene, benzine or benzol is a a liquid hydrocarbon obtained from coal-tar or distillate of petroleum obtained from benzol by treating it with sulphuric acid and then distilling, used as a solvent in dry cleaning and painting. Benzene was discovered by Faraday in the oils of portable gas in 1825 and obtained by Mitscherlich from benzoic acid in 1834, and by Mansfield from coal tar in 1848 (he also died as the result of burns sustained while experimenting with benzene). It has the formulae CgHg and is quite colourless, of a peculiar agreeable odour and is used by manufacturers of india-rubber and gutta-percha, on account of its great solvent powers, in the preparation of varnishes, also for removing grease from fabrics, gloves, etc. It is the parent substance for most of the aniline dyes and for other substances, e.g. saccharin. It is inflammable, burning with a very smoky flame. Research Benzene
Abbreviations
SciTech
Research Benzene