Benzene
. Benzene, colorless liquid with a characteristic odor and burning taste. The benzene molecule is a closed ring of six carbon atoms connected by bonds that resonate between single and double bonds; each carbon atom is also bound to a single hydrogen atom. It is insoluble in water, but miscible in all proportions with organic solvents. Benzene itself is an excellent solvent for certain elements, such as sulfur, phosphorus, and iodine; for gums, fats, waxes, and resins; and for most simple organic chemicals. It is one of the most commonly used solvents in the organic chemical laboratory. Benzene melts at 5.5° C (41.9° F), boils at 80.1° C (176.2° F), and has a specific gravity of 0.88 at 20° C (68° F). If inhaled in large quantities, benzene is poisonous. The vapors are explosive, and the liquid violently flammable. Many compounds, such as nitrobenzene, are obtained from benzene. Benzene is also used in the manufacture of drugs and in the production of important derivatives, such as anil