BENZENE

benzene, benzine, benzol

(noun) a colorless liquid hydrocarbon; highly flammable; carcinogenic; the simplest of the aromatic compounds

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

benzene (usually uncountable, plural benzenes)

(organic compound) An aromatic hydrocarbon of formula C6H6 whose structure consists of a ring of alternate single and double bonds.

(organic chemistry, in combination) Sometimes used in place of the phenyl group.

Source: Wiktionary


Ben"zene, n. Etym: [From Benzoin.] (Chem.)

Definition: A volatile, very inflammable liquid, C6H6, contained in the naphtha produced by the destructive distillation of coal, from which it is separated by fractional distillation. The name is sometimes applied also to the impure commercial product or benzole, and also, but rarely, to a similar mixed product of petroleum. Benzene nucleus, Benzene ring (Chem.), a closed chain or ring, consisting of six carbon atoms, each with one hydrogen atom attached, regarded as the type from which the aromatic compounds are derived. This ring formula is provisionally accepted as representing the probable constitution of the benzene molecule, C6H6, and as the type on which its derivatives are formed.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



RESET




Word of the Day

9 May 2025

RIGHT

(noun) anything in accord with principles of justice; “he feels he is in the right”; “the rightfulness of his claim”


coffee icon

Coffee Trivia

Decaffeinated coffee comes from a chemical process that takes out caffeine from the beans. Pharmaceutical and soda companies buy the extracted caffeine.

coffee icon