title: Benzene (data page)
text: # Benzene (data page)
  
  This page provides supplementary chemical data on benzene.
  
  ## Material Safety Data Sheet
  
  The handling of this chemical may incur notable safety precautions. It is highly recommended to seek the Material Safety Datasheet (MSDS) for this chemical from a reliable source such as SIRI, and follow its directions. MSDS for benzene is available at AMOCO.
  
  ## Structure and properties
  
  Structure and properties :
  
  | Refractive index, $n_D$ | 1.5011 at 20 °C |
  | - | - |
  | Abbe number | ? |
  | Dielectric constant, $ε_r$ | (2.274 – 0.0020ΔT) $ε_0$ (ΔT = T – 25 °C) |
  | Bond energy | ? |
  | Bond length | 1.39 Å C-C |
  | Molecular geometry | 120 °C–C–C 120° H–C–C |
  | Magnetic susceptibility | ? |
  | Surface tension | 28.88 dyn/cm at 25 °C |
  | Viscosity | 0.7528 mPa·sat 10 °C 0.6999 mPa·sat 15 °C 0.6516 mPa·sat 20 °C 0.6076 mPa·sat 25 °C 0.5673 mPa·sat 35 °C 0.4965 mPa·sat 40 °C 0.4655 mPa·sat 45 °C 0.4370 mPa·sat 50 °C 0.4108 mPa·sat 55 °C 0.3867 mPa·sat 60 °C 0.3644 mPa·sat 65 °C 0.3439 mPa·sat 70 °C 0.3250 mPa·sat 75 °C 0.3075 mPa·sat 80 °C |
  
  ## Thermodynamic properties
  
  Phase behavior :
  
  | Triple point | 278.5 K (5.4 °C), 4.83 kPa |
  | - | - |
  | Critical point | 562 K (289 °C), 4.89 MPa |
  | Std enthalpy change of fusion, $Δ_{fus}H^o$ | 9.9 kJ/mol at 5.42 °C |
  | Std entropy change of fusion, $Δ_{fus}S^o$ | 35.5 J/(mol·K) at 5.42 °C |
  | Std enthalpy change of vaporization, $Δ_{vap}H^o$ | 33.9 kJ/mol at 25 °C 30.77 kJ/mol at 80.1 °C |
  | Std entropy change of vaporization, $Δ_{vap}S^o$ | 113.6 J/(mol·K) at 25 °C 87.1 J/(mol·K) at 80.1 °C |
  | Solid properties ||
  | Std enthalpy change of formation, $Δ_fH^o_{solid}$ | ? kJ/mol |
  | Standard molar entropy, $S^o_{solid}$ | 45.56 J/(mol K) |
  | Heat capacity, $c_p$ | 118.4 J/(mol K) at 0 °C |
  | Liquid properties ||
  | Std enthalpy change of formation, $Δ_fH^o_{liquid}$ | +48.7 kJ/mol |
  | Standard molar entropy, $S^o_{liquid}$ | 173.26 J/(mol K) |
  | Enthalpy of combustion, $Δ_cH^o$ | –3273 kJ/mol |
  | Heat capacity, $c_p$ | 134.8 J/(mol K) |
  | Gas properties ||
  | Std enthalpy change of formation, $Δ_fH^o_{gas}$ | +82.93 kJ/mol |
  | Standard molar entropy, $S^o_{gas}$ | 269.01 J/(mol K) |
  | Heat capacity, $c_p$ | 82.44 J/(mol K) at 25 °C |
  | van der Waals' constants | a = 1823.9 $L^2$ $kPa/mol^2$ b = 0.1154 liter per mole |
  
  ## Vapor pressure of liquid
  
  | P in mm Hg | P in mm Hg | 1 | 10 | 40 | 100 | 400 | 760 | 1520 | 3800 | 7600 | 15200 | 30400 | 45600 |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | T in °C | T in °C | $–36.7_{(s)}$ | $–11.5_{(s)}$ | 7.6 | 26.1 | 60.6 | 80.1 | 103.8 | 142.5 | 178.8 | 221.5 | 272.3 | — |
  
  Table data obtained from CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics 44th ed. Note: (s) notation indicates equilibrium temperature of vapor over solid, otherwise value is equilibrium temperature of vapor over liquid.
  
  ## Distillation data
  
  Vapor-liquid Equilibrium for Benzene/Ethanol P = 760 mm Hg :
  
  | BP Temp. °C | % by mole ethanol | % by mole ethanol |
  | - | - | - |
  | BP Temp. °C | liquid | vapor |
  | 70.8 | 8.6 | 26.5 |
  | 69.8 | 11.2 | 28.2 |
  | 69.6 | 12.0 | 30.8 |
  | 69.1 | 15.8 | 33.5 |
  | 68.5 | 20.0 | 36.8 |
  | 67.7 | 30.8 | 41.0 |
  | 67.7 | 44.2 | 44.6 |
  | 68.1 | 60.4 | 50.5 |
  | 69.6 | 77.0 | 59.0 |
  | 70.4 | 81.5 | 62.8 |
  | 70.9 | 84.1 | 66.5 |
  | 72.7 | 89.8 | 74.4 |
  | 73.8 | 92.4 | 78.2 |
  
  Vapor-liquid Equilibrium for Benzene/Methanol P = 760 mm Hg :
  
  | BP Temp. °C | % by mole methanol | % by mole methanol |
  | - | - | - |
  | BP Temp. °C | liquid | vapor |
  | 70.67 | 2.6 | 26.7 |
  | 66.44 | 5.0 | 37.1 |
  | 62.87 | 8.8 | 45.7 |
  | 60.20 | 16.4 | 52.6 |
  | 58.64 | 33.3 | 55.9 |
  | 58.02 | 54.9 | 59.5 |
  | 58.10 | 69.9 | 63.3 |
  | 58.47 | 78.2 | 66.5 |
  | 59.90 | 89.8 | 76.0 |
  | 62.71 | 97.3 | 90.7 |
  
  Vapor-liquid Equilibrium for Benzene/Acetone P = 101.325 kPa :
  
  | BP Temp. °C | % by mole benzene | % by mole benzene |
  | - | - | - |
  | BP Temp. °C | liquid | vapor |
  | 57.34 | 11.7 | 7.4 |
  | 57.48 | 12.8 | 8.1 |
  | 57.75 | 15.1 | 9.5 |
  | 59.21 | 26.7 | 16.6 |
  | 59.24 | 27.0 | 16.7 |
  | 60.01 | 32.7 | 20.2 |
  | 60.71 | 37.3 | 23.1 |
  | 61.05 | 39.8 | 24.7 |
  | 61.91 | 45.0 | 27.9 |
  | 62.82 | 50.2 | 31.7 |
  | 63.39 | 53.4 | 33.9 |
  | 63.79 | 55.4 | 35.3 |
  | 64.22 | 57.2 | 37.0 |
  | 64.99 | 61.3 | 39.9 |
  | 67.88 | 73.0 | 51.2 |
  | 70.21 | 80.7 | 60.1 |
  | 72.23 | 86.1 | 67.9 |
  
  Vapor-liquid Equilibrium for Benzene/n-Hexane P = 760 mmHg :
  
  | BP Temp. °C | % by mole hexane | % by mole hexane |
  | - | - | - |
  | BP Temp. °C | liquid | vapor |
  | 77.6 | 7.3 | 14.0 |
  | 75.1 | 17.2 | 26.8 |
  | 73.4 | 26.8 | 37.6 |
  | 72.0 | 37.2 | 46.0 |
  | 70.9 | 46.2 | 54.0 |
  | 70.0 | 58.5 | 64.4 |
  | 69.4 | 69.2 | 72.5 |
  | 69.1 | 79.2 | 80.7 |
  | 69.0 | 82.8 | 83.8 |
  | 68.9 | 88.3 | 88.8 |
  | 68.8 | 94.7 | 95.0 |
  | 68.8 | 96.2 | 96.4 |
  
  ## Spectral data
  
  UV-Vis :
  
  | Ionization potential | 9.24 eV (74525.6 $cm^{−1})$ |
  | - | - |
  | $S_1$ | 4.75 eV (38311.3 $cm^{−1})$ |
  | $S_2$ | 6.05 eV (48796.5 $cm^{−1})$ |
  | $λ_{max}$ | 255 nm |
  | Extinction coefficient, ε | ? |
  | IR ||
  | Major absorption bands | (liquid film) Wave numbertransmittance 3091 $cm^{−1}42%$ 3072 $cm^{−1}49%$ 3036 $cm^{−1}27%$ 1961 $cm^{−1}77%$ 1815 $cm^{−1}70%$ 1526 $cm^{−1}81%$ 1479 $cm^{−1}20%$ 1393 $cm^{−1}84%$ 1176 $cm^{−1}86%$ 1038 $cm^{−1}49%$ 674 $cm^{−1}4%$ |
  | NMR ||
  | Proton NMR | $(CDCl_3,$ 300 MHz) δ 7.34 (s, 6H) |
  | Carbon-13 NMR | $(CDCl_3,$ 25 MHz) δ 128.4 |
  | Other NMR data | |
  | MS ||
  | Masses of main fragments | |
  
  ## Safety data
  
  Material Safety Data Sheet for benzene:
  
  | Common synonyms | None |
  | - | - |
  | Physical properties | Form: colorless liquid |
  | | Stability: Stable, but very flammable |
  | | Melting point: 5.5 C |
  | | Water solubility: negligible |
  | | Specific gravity: 0.87 |
  | Principal hazards | *** Benzene is a carcinogen (cancer-causing agent). |
  | | *** Very flammable. The pure material, and any solutions containing it, constitute a fire risk. |
  | Safe handling | Benzene should NOT be used at all unless no safer alternatives are available. |
  | | If benzene must be used in an experiment, it should be handled at all stages in a fume cupboard. |
  | | Wear safety glasses and use protective gloves. |
  | Emergency | Eye contact: Immediately flush the eye with plenty of water. Continue for at least ten minutes |
  | | and call for immediate medical help. |
  | | Skin contact: Wash off with soap and water. Remove any contaminated clothing. If the skin |
  | | reddens or appears damaged, call for medical aid. |
  | | If swallowed: Call for immediate medical help. |
  | Disposal | It is dangerous to try to dispose of benzene by washing it down a sink, since it is toxic, will cause environmental damage |
  | | and presents a fire risk. It is probable that trying to dispose of benzene in this way will also break local |
  | | environmental rules. Instead, retain in a safe place in the laboratory (well away from any source of ignition) |
  | | for disposal with other flammable, non-chlorinated solvents. |
  | Protective equipment | Safety glasses. If gloves are worn, PVA, butyl rubber and viton are suitable materials. |
  