Nitrobenzene(C6H5NO2)

The chemical formula C₆H₅NO₂ represents nitrobenzene, an aromatic nitro compound. Nitrobenzene is a pale yellow oil that smells like almonds. It's toxic and can cause cancer. 

Properties

Melting point: 42.26 °F (5.7 °C)

Boiling point: 411.6 °F (210.9 °C)

Molar mass: 123.11 g/mol

Density: 1.2 g/cm³

Chemical properties

It has active chemical properties and can be reduced to diazonium salts, azobenzene, etc. It will burn and explode when exposed to open flames and high heat. It reacts violently with nitric acid. It is obtained by nitrating benzene with a mixture of nitric acid and sulfuric acid. It is used as an intermediate in organic synthesis and as a raw material for the production of aniline. Nitrobenzene must undergo electrophilic substitution reactions under relatively strong conditions to generate meta-products; it has a weak oxidizing effect and can be used as an oxidant for oxidative dehydrogenation. Nitrobenzene is often produced by reacting benzene with a mixed acid of nitric acid and sulfuric acid. It is mainly used to produce aniline, benzidine, azobenzene, etc. Nitrobenzene is highly toxic. Inhaling a large amount of vapor or contaminating the skin can cause acute poisoning, oxidizing or complexing hemoglobin, turning the blood into dark brown, and causing headaches, nausea, vomiting, etc.

Application fields

Nitrobenzene is an important organic intermediate. Nitrobenzene is sulfonated with sulfur trioxide to obtain 3-nitrobenzene sulfonic acid. It can be used as a mild oxidant for dye intermediates and anti-dyeing salt S. Nitrobenzene is sulfonated with chlorosulfonic acid to obtain m-nitrobenzene sulfonyl chloride, which is used as an intermediate for dyes, medicines, etc. Nitrobenzene is chlorinated to obtain 3-nitrochlorobenzene, which is widely used in the production of dyes and pesticides. After reduction, m-chloroaniline can be obtained. It is used as the orange base GC of dyes and is also an intermediate for medicines, pesticides, fluorescent brighteners, organic pigments, etc. Nitrobenzene can be re-nitrated to obtain m-dinitrobenzene, which can be reduced to obtain m-phenylenediamine, which is used as a dye intermediate, epoxy resin curing agent, petroleum additive, cement accelerator, and m-dinitrobenzene can be partially reduced with sodium sulfide to obtain m-nitroaniline. It is the orange base R of dyes and is an intermediate for azo dyes and organic pigments.

Production and uses

Nitrobenzene is produced from benzene on a large scale.

It's used to make aniline, which is then used to make dyes, drugs, pesticides, and synthetic rubber. 

It's also used to make lubricating oils. 

Health effects Nitrobenzene is toxic by inhalation and skin absorption, It can cause cancer, It can cause male reproductive toxicity, and It can cause skin burns. 

Safety precautions 

When handling nitrobenzene, you should use personal protective equipment, such as gas detection tubes and portable gas detectors.