Chem. [f. Gr. ξύλον wood + -ENE.] A mixture of three isomeric hydrocarbons having the formula C8H10 = C6H4(CH3)2, obtained as a volatile colorless liquid from wood-spirit or coal-naphtha; any one of these three hydrocarbons: systematically named dimethylbenzene. Also attrib. (Also called XYLOL, q.v.)
1851. Jrnl. Chem. Soc., III. 184. Xylol or Xylene.
1859. Watts trans. Gmelin’s Hand-bk. Chem., XIII. 116. Xylene series…. Primary Nucleus C16H10, Xylol C16H10.
1885. Remsen, Org. Chen. (1888), 241. Coal-tar xylene consists of three isomeric hydrocarbons … known as ortho-xylene, meta-xylene, and para-xylene.
Hence Xylenic a., Xylenol, Xylenyl, Xylenylamine: see quots.
1868. Watts, Dict. Chem., V. 1059. Xylenyl. Syn. with Xylyl. Ibid., Xylenylamine. Syn. with Xylidine.
1872. Jrnl. Chem. Soc., New Ser. X. 482. Liquid Xylenol is a colourless, highly refracting fluid, smelling strongly of phenol.
1873. Watts, Fownes’ Chem. (ed. 11), 798. Xylenol is produced by fusing the potassium salt of xylyl sulphurous acid with potassium hydrate. Ibid. (1879), Dict. Chem., VI. 1128. Xylenol. C8H10O = C6H3(CH3)2OH. Dimethyl-phenol, Xenol, Xylylic phenol. Ibid., 1129. Solid xylenol dissolves abundantly in alcohol and ether…. Liquid xylenol is colourless and strongly refractive.
1894. Muir & Morley, Watts’ Dict. Chem., IV. 871/2. Xylenic alcohol is tolyl-carbinol.
