What is Styrene?
[[File:Styrene 3D.png|thumb|250 px|Styrene molecule]] '''Styrene''' is a certain [[Organic compound|organic]] [[chemical compound]] having the [[chemical formula]] C<sub>8</sub>H<sub>8</sub>. Its [[chemical structure]] is made up of a [[vinyl group]] [[Chemical bond|bonded]] onto a [[benzene]] ring. This benzene ring makes styrene an [[aromatic]] compound. At room [[temperature]] and [[pressure]], styrene is a clear, colorless [[liquid]]. Other names for styrene can be ''styrol'', ''vinylbenzene'', ''phenylethene'', or ''phenylethylene''. == Uses == Styrene is used in [[polymer chemistry]] as a [[monomer]]. This means many styrene [[molecule]]s can bond together to make a larger molecule called [[polystyrene]]. Polystyrene is a kind of [[polymer]] often used as a [[plastic]]. This kind of [[chemical reaction]] is called [[polymerization]]. Styrene can also bond with other kinds of monomers to make other kinds of polymers called ''copolymers''. For one example, styrene has been mixed with another monomer called [[1,3-butadiene]] to make a copolymer which is a kind of [[synthetic rubber]]. For another example, styrene is mixed with [[acrylonitrile]] and [[1,3-butadiene]] to make a copolymer plastic called [[ABS]] ('''A'''crylonitrile-'''B'''utadiene-'''S'''tyrene). == Production == In industry, styrene is made from [[ethylbenzene]] by this [[chemical reaction]]: {{center|1=[[File:Ethylbenzene to Styrene.PNG]]}} This kind of reaction is called [[dehydrogenation]]. [[Hydrogen]] is also made by this reaction.. [[Category:Hydrocarbons]] [[Category:Aromatic compounds]]