Ethylbenzene

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Ethylbenzene


IUPAC name	Ethylbenzene
Other names	Ethylbenzol, EB, phenylethane
Identifiers
CAS number	[100-41-4]
RTECS number	DA0700000
SMILES	c1ccccc1CC
Properties
Molecular formula	C₈H₁₀
Molar mass	106.167 g/mol
Appearance	Colourless liquid
Density	0.8665 g/mL, liquid
Melting point	-95 °C (188 K)
Boiling point	136 °C (409 K)
Solubility in water	0.015 g/100 ml (20 °C)
Viscosity	0.669 cP at 20 °C
Hazards
Main hazards	Flammable
NFPA 704	3 2 0
R-phrases	11, 20
S-phrases	2, 16, 24/25, 29
Flash point	15-20 °C
Related compounds
Related aromatic hydrocarbons	styrene, toluene
Related compounds	benzene polystyrene
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

Ethylbenzene is an organic chemical compound which is an aromatic hydrocarbon. Its major use is in the petrochemical industry as an intermediate compound for the production of styrene, which in turn is used for making polystyrene, a commonly used plastic material. Although often present in small amounts in crude oil, ethylbenzene is produced in bulk quantities by combining the petrochemicals benzene and ethylene in an acid-catalyzed chemical reaction. Catalytic dehydrogenation of the ethylbenzene then gives hydrogen gas and styrene, which is vinylbenzene. Ethylbenzene is also an ingredient in some paints, and solvent grade xylene (xylol) nearly always contains ethylbenzene as a contaminent, to the extent of a few percent.