m-Xylene

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m-Xylene
Other names	m-Xylol 1,3-Dimethylbenzene
Identifiers
CAS number	[108-38-3]
RTECS number	ZE2275000
SMILES	CC1=CC(C)=CC=C1
Properties
Molecular formula	C8H10
Molar mass	106.16 g/mol
Appearance	Colorless liquid
Density	0.86 g/mL
Melting point	-48 °C, 225 K, -54 °F
Boiling point	139 °C, 412 K, 282 °F
Solubility in water	insoluble
Solubility in ethanol	very soluble
Solubility in diethyl ether	very soluble
Refractive index (nD)	1.49722
Viscosity	8.059 cP at 0 °C 6.200 cP at 20 °C
Hazards
MSDS	External MSDS
MSDS	External MSDS
Main hazards	Harmful or fatal if swallowed. Vapor harmful. Flammable liquid and vapor.
NFPA 704	3 1 0
R-phrases	R10 R20 R21 R38
S-phrases	S25
Flash point	25 °C
Related compounds
Related aromatic hydrocarbons	benzene toluene o-xylene p-xylene
Supplementary data page
Structure and properties	n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic data	Phase behaviour Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data	UV, IR, NMR, MS
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references

m-Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon, based on benzene with two methyl substituents.

It is an isomer of o-xylene and p-xylene. The m stands for meta, meaning the two methyl substituents are at locants 1 and 3 on the aromatic ring.

The major chemical use of metaxylene is in the manufacture of isophthalic acid, which is used as a copolymer to alter the properties of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) making PET more suitable for the manufacture of soft drinks bottles.

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