Xylene is a colorless liquid with a sweet odor. It is used as a solvent in the manufacture of resins, paints, adhesives, rubber and varnishes. It is also used in the manufacture of quartz crystal oscillators, perfumes, pharmaceuticals, in the leather industry and in insect repellants. Xylene is a volatile, flammable and toxic compound found in gasoline. It is also corrosive to some forms of plastics, rubbers and coatings. It occurs naturally in petroleum, wood tar and coal tar. It is also formed during forest fires. Xylene is a mixture of three isomers (orto, meta and para) that differ structurally in the position of the two methyl groups. Commercial xylene is a mixture of the three xylene isomers in different proportions. Natural sources of xylene such as petroleum, forest fires and the volatiles of plants may result in its release to the environment. Xylene vapor may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat.
Lab name:
Common molecules
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Obtained courtesy of the Cambridge Structural Database
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