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.
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.
Application 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.
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