nitrobenzene

[ nahy-troh-ben-zeen, -ben-zeen ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a pale yellow, toxic, water-soluble liquid, C 6 H 5 NO 2 , produced by nitrating benzene with nitric acid: used chiefly in the manufacture of aniline.

nitrobenzene

/ ˌnaɪtrəʊˈbɛnziːn /

noun

1. a yellow oily toxic water-insoluble liquid compound, used as a solvent and in the manufacture of aniline. Formula: C 6 H 5 NO 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of nitrobenzene¹

First recorded in 1865–70; nitro- + benzene

Example Sentences

The Jiangsu environmental protection bureau said late on Friday that a team of 126 inspectors found various degrees of contamination in local water samples, with nitrobenzene concentrations exceeding standards at one location.

From Reuters

It is a colorless, oily liquid, originally obtained from indigo by distillation, but now largely manufactured from coal tar or nitrobenzene as a base from which many brilliant dyes are made.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the simplest and longest-known members of this group is nitrobenzene, C6H5NO2, which is employed to some extent as an explosive, being one ingredient in rack-a-rock and other blasting compositions.

From Project Gutenberg

It is prepared from nitrobenzene by reducing it with stannous chloride and sodium hydroxide.

From Project Gutenberg

Higher nitrates are also obtainable up to the limit of the trinitrate, which is insoluble in ether or alcohol, but is soluble in nitroglycerin, nitrobenzene and other solvents.

From Project Gutenberg