Toluene
Toluene, also known as toluol, is an aromatic hydrocarbon. It is a colorless, water-insoluble liquid with the smell associated with paint thinners. It is a mono-substituted benzene derivative, consisting of a CH₃ group attached to a phenyl group. As such, its IUPAC systematic name is methylbenzene.
Toluene occurs naturally in crude oil and in the tolu tree. It is also produced in the process of making gasoline and other fuels from crude oil and making coke from coal.
Properties Of Toluene
- CAS No - 108-88-3
- HS Code - 29023000
- Class - 3
- Formula: C6H5CH3
- Boiling Point: 110.6 °C
- Molar Mass: 92.14 g/mol
- Melting Point: -95 °C
- Density: 867 kg/m³
Benefits of Toluene
Toluene has numerous commercial and industrial applications such as:
- Toluene has numerous industrial applications: it is a solvent in paints, lacquers, thinners, glues, correction fluid, and is used in the printing and leather tanning processes.
- Toluene is also in use to break open red blood cells to extract haemoglobin in biochemistry experiments.
- It has also been in use for the process of removing the cocaine from coca leaves in the production of Coca-Cola syrup.
- Toluene has been in use as a coolant because of its good heat transfer capabilities in sodium cold traps used in nuclear reactor system loops.
