Question

What is benzene used for today?

Answer 1

We should know about benzene and its chemical formula. Benzene is an important organic chemical compound. The chemical formula is ${C_6}{H_6}$ . After seeing the chemical formula of benzene, we come to know that the benzene molecule is composed of six carbon atoms and one hydrogen atom is attached to each carbon atom.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
We know that the chemical formula of benzene is ${C_6}{H_6}$ . The benzene molecule is composed of six carbon atoms and one hydrogen atom is attached to each carbon atom and they are arranged in a planar ring. Benzene molecule is classed as hydrocarbon because it is composed of only carbon and hydrogen.
Benzene is used as feedstock or raw material for the synthesis of various industrial chemicals such as cumene, ethyl benzene and cyclohexane etc. It is also used as a solvent in the pharmaceuticals and chemical industry. It is also found in cigarette smoke and crude oil. It is also used in the production of rubber. It is also present in the products used in the printing industry for cleaning and maintaining printing equipment. The oil refineries products such as gasoline, fuel oils and kerosene also contain benzene. Benzene is also used in the production of asphalt that is used for paving and roofing companies.

Note:
It must be noted that apart from the various uses of benzene, there are also adverse effects of exposure of benzene. The acute and long term exposure of benzene to humans may cause adverse health effects which include cancer, and aplastic anaemia etc.