The handling of this chemical may incur notable safety precautions. It is highly recommend that you seek the Material Safety Datasheet (MSDS) for this chemical from a reliable source such as SIRI, and follow its directions. MSDS for benzene available at AMOCO.
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[3] P = 760 mm Hg
BP Temp. °C
% by mole ethanol
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[3] P = 760 mm Hg
BP Temp. °C
% by mole methanol
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[3] P = 101.325 kPa
BP Temp. °C
% by mole benzene
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[3] P = 760 mmHg
*** 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.
References
^ abcd Pure Component Properties (Queriable database). Chemical Engineering Research Information Center. Retrieved on 12-May 2007.
^Lange's Handbook of Chemistry 10th ed, pp 1522-1524
^ abcd Binary Vapor-Liquid Equilibrium Data (Queriable database). Chemical Engineering Research Information Center. Retrieved on 12 May 2007.
^ [http://www.aist.go.jp/RIODB/SDBS/cgi-bin/cre_index.cgi Spectral Database for
Organic Compounds] (Queriable database). Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. Retrieved on 10 June 2007.
Except where noted otherwise, data relate to standard ambient temperature and pressure.