toluene

Also known as 1-methylbenzene, methylbenzol, phenylmethane, phenyl-methane, monomethyl benzene, methylbenzene

Toluene (), also known as toluol (), is a substituted aromatic hydrocarbon with the chemical formula , often abbreviated as , where Ph stands for the phenyl group. It is a colorless, water-insoluble liquid with the odor associated with paint thinners. It is a mono-substituted benzene derivative, consisting of a methyl group (CH3) attached to a phenyl group by a single bond. As such, its systematic IUPAC name is methylbenzene. Toluene is predominantly used as an industrial feedstock and a solvent.

AI overview

Toluene is a colorless liquid chemical made from benzene with a methyl group attached, commonly recognized by its distinctive paint-thinner smell. It's widely used in industry as a raw material for making other chemicals and as a solvent for dissolving substances in manufacturing processes.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Chemical data

Formula: C7H8
Molecular weight: 92.14 g/mol
IUPAC name: toluene
SMILES: CC1=CC=CC=C1
InChIKey: YXFVVABEGXRONW-UHFFFAOYSA-N
XLogP: 2.7
Polar surface area: 0 Å²
H-bond donors: 0
H-bond acceptors: 0
Formal charge: 0

via PubChem

Research

38,804 papers

Toluene.ReviewIARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans · 1989
Toluene.ReviewReviews of environmental contamination and toxicology · 1988DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4612-3922-2_17
Toluene.ReviewIARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans · 1999
Toluene.ReviewJournal of applied toxicology : JAT · 1993Von Burg RDOI: 10.1002/jat.2550130612
[Toluene].ReviewNihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine · 2004Kumamoto T
Toluene Toxicity in the Brain: From Cellular Targets to Molecular Mechanisms.ReviewAnnual review of pharmacology and toxicology · 2025Shaw AA, Steketee JD, Bukiya AN et al.DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-012924-010532
Toluene diisocyanates.ReviewIARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans · 1999
[Toluene].ReviewNihon rinsho. Japanese journal of clinical medicine · 1999Kumamoto T

via PubMed

Wikidata facts

Mass: 92.063

Show 20 more facts

vapor pressure: 21
Commons category: Toluene
canonical SMILES: CC1=CC=CC=C1
chemical formula: C₇H₈
NIOSH Pocket Guide ID: 0619
density: 0.87
immediately dangerous to life or health: 1885
melting point: -94.99
boiling point: 110.63
flash point: 40
solubility: 0.07
lower flammable limit: 1.1
upper flammable limit: 7.1
ionization energy: 8.82
time-weighted average exposure limit: 754
ceiling exposure limit: 1131
short-term exposure limit: 560
combustion enthalpy: -3910
standard enthalpy of formation: 12180
electric dipole moment: 0.375

Sources (9)

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~11 min read

Article

18 sections

Contents

History
Chemical properties
Ring reactions
Side chain reactions
Miscibility
Production
Other preparative routes
Uses
Precursor to benzene and xylenes
Solvent
Fuel
Niche applications
Toxicology and metabolism
Recreational use
Bioremediation
References
Cited sources
External links

As the solvent in some types of paint thinner, permanent markers, contact cement and certain types of glue, toluene is sometimes used as a recreational inhalant and has the potential of causing severe neurological harm.