noun
benzene
BEHN-zeen
noun
1
A colorless, flammable liquid hydrocarbon with the formula C6H6, made of a ring of six carbon atoms, widely used in industry as a solvent and raw material.
"Benzene is a known carcinogen and is tightly regulated in consumer products."
"The chemist drew the familiar hexagonal ring structure of benzene on the board."
How to Use Benzene
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA common industrial chemical made of a ring-shaped molecule, notable for being both useful and toxic.
Common mistake
Not the same word as "Benz" (the car surname) — the resemblance is coincidental.
Word Forms
benzenes plural
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Etymology
Coined in German from Benzin, itself based on Benzoesäure ("benzoic acid"), with the chemical suffix -ene added when the compound was renamed in English in 1872.