Chem. [f. BENZ-OIC (acid) + -ENE, q.v. The name originally given by Mitscherlich in 1833 was benzin or benzine, for which Liebig in 1834 substituted BENZOL. Benzene, according to Hofmann’s nomenclature, is now generally used by chemists, but benzine is in common use for the commercial product.]
1. An aromatic hydrocarbon, C6 H6, the first or simplest member of the Benzene Series, CnH2n–6; a thin, colorless, strongly refracting fluid, volatile and highly inflammable, formed by distilling benzoic acid with lime, and found in 1849 in the more volatile parts of coal-tar; it dissolves fats, resins, gutta-percha, etc., whence it is used for removing grease-spots and cleaning gloves, as well as for illuminating purposes. (See BENZOLINE.)
α. 1835. Penny Cycl., IV. 255. M. Mitscherlich obtained a fluid … to which the name of benzine is given.
1864. Q. Jrnl. Science, I. 523. Benzine has come largely into use to supply the place of turpentine.
1879. Miss Braddon, Cloven Foot, xxi. 174. It is like the blood-stain on Lady Macbeth’s hand. All the benzine in the world won’t take it out.
β. 1872. Watts, Dict. Chem., I. 541. Benzene or Benzol (Hydride of phenyl)…. The most abundant source of benzene is coal tar.
1878. Kingzett, Anim. Chem., 29. Benzene … is capable of yielding hundreds of different substances.
2. Entering into the name of substitution-products, as Chloro-benzene, Nitro-benzene C6 H5 NO2.
3. Attrib. and Comb., as benzine-collas (see quot.); benzene ring (Chem.), a name for the ring-like arrangement of the six carbon atoms in the formula of the benzene molecule, by which the phenomena of its combinations are explained.
1864. Pop. Science Rev., III. 432. About 1850 impure benzol was sold … under the name of benzine-collas for cleaning gloves, tissues.
1877. Watts, Fownes’ Chem., II. 419. In the homologues of benzene, the six carbon-atoms belonging to the benzene itself are said to form the benzene-ring, benzene-nucleus, or principal chain, while the groups, CH3 etc., joined on to these carbon-atoms, are called lateral chains.
