Science Online Learning: Harmful compounds with harmless elements

1.0 Intro

What I am doing on is benzene (C6H6). Benzene is a colorless and highly flammable liquid with a sweet smell. It can be found in cigrattes and cigars. Michael Faraday discovered this chemical in 1825 from the oily residue derived from the production of illuminating gas.

1.1 Uses of benzene after being discovered

In the 19th and early-20th centuries, benzene was used as an after-shave lotion because of its pleasant smell. Prior to the 1920s, benzene was frequently used as an industrial solvent, especially for degreasing metal.

1.2 Uses of benzene today

Today, benzene is used mainly as an intermediate to make other chemicals. Its most widely-produced derivatives include styrene, which is used to make polymers and plastics. Smaller amounts of benzene are used to make some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, explosives, napalm, and pesticides.

1.3 Formation

It is formed by two harmless elements: Carbon and Hydrogen.

1.31 Carbon

Carbon has an atomic number of 6, and a mass number of 12. It is a harmless, non metallic element and is the fourth most abundant element in the universe (hydrogen, helium, and oxygen are found in higher amounts, by mass).

1.32 Hydrogen

Hydrogen has the atomic number of 1, a mass number of 1, and is the first element of the periodic table. It takes up 75% of the universe. However, it is relatively rare on earth. Hydrogen is extremely flammable, and is always associated with the famous explosion of the Hindenburg airship.

1.4 Harmful aspects of benzene

1.41 Overview

Benzene exposure has serious health effects. The American Petroleum Institute stated in 1948 that "it is generally considered that the only absolutely safe concentration for benzene is zero." The US Department of Health and Human Services classifies benzene as a human carcinogen.

1.42 Short term effects

The short-term breathing of high levels of benzene can result in death; low levels can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness. Eating or drinking foods containing high levels of benzene can cause vomiting, irritation of the stomach, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, and death.

1.43 Long Term effects

Long-term exposure to excessive levels of benzene in the air causes leukemia, a potentially fatal cancer of the blood-forming organs, in susceptible individuals.