Chemicals and Drugs

Benzene

Toxic, volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon byproduct of coal distillation. It is used as an industrial solvent in paints, varnishes, lacquer thinners, gasoline, etc. Benzene causes central nervous system damage acutely and bone marrow damage chronically and is carcinogenic. It was formerly used as parasiticide.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Toxic, volatile, flammable liquid hydrocarbon byproduct of coal distillation. It is used as an industrial solvent in paints, varnishes, lacquer thinners, gasoline, etc. Benzene causes central nervous system damage acutely and bone marrow damage chronically and is carcinogenic. It was formerly used as parasiticide.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
C6H6
Molecular Weight
78.11 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
71-43-2
IUPAC Name
benzene
InChIKey
UHOVQNZJYSORNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES
C1=CC=CC=C1
MeSH Unique ID
D001554
Source
PubChem CID 241

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

3 entry terms
  • Benzol
  • Benzole
  • Cyclohexatriene

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

19 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, economics, history, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

do not confuse with benzil or benzal

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Benzene. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D001554. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D001554
  2. Benzene. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzene
  3. Benzene. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2270
  4. Benzene. In: PubChem Compound. CID 241. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/241