Substance profile
Nitrobenzene
Nitrobenzene is greenish-yellow crystals or yellow, oily liquid with an odor of volatile oil almond.
01 · Identification
What Nitrobenzene is
Nitrobenzene is greenish-yellow crystals or yellow, oily liquid with an odor of volatile oil almond. Its molecular formula is C6H5NO2 and its molecular weight is 123.11 g/mol. It boils at 211 °C, melts at 5.7 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs).
Other names for Nitrobenzene
- Benzene, Nitro-
- Essence Of Mirbane
- Essence Of Myrbane
- Mirbane Oil
- Nitrobenzene, Liquid
- Nitrobenzol
- Oil Of Mirbane
- Oil Of Myrbane
02 · GHS classification
Hazards and label elements
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H351 | Suspected of causing cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H360F | May damage fertility. |
| H331 | Toxic if inhaled. |
| H311 | Toxic in contact with skin. |
| H301 | Toxic if swallowed. |
| H372 | Causes damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H412 | Harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects. |
Precautionary statements: P201, P260, P270, P271, P273, P280, P301, P302, P304, P308, P310, P313, P314, P330, P352, P501
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Nitrobenzene properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 210.8 °C (411.4 °F) | HSDB | |
| 210.56 °C (411 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 210.78 °C (411.4 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| Melting point | 5.7 °C (42.3 °F) | HSDB | |
| 5.56 °C (42 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| Density | 1.2 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 1.2037 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 1.199 g/cm³ | at 25 °C | HSDB | |
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in carbon tetrachloride; very soluble in ethanol, diethyl ether, acetone, benzene | HSDB | |
| Soluble in ~500 parts water; freely soluble in alcohol, benzene, ether, oils | HSDB | ||
| Readily soluble in most organic solvents and is completely miscible with diethyl ether, benzene, and alcohol. | HSDB | ||
| Vapor pressure | 0.15 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC |
| 0.3 mmHg | at 25 °C | NIOSH | |
| Flash point | 87.78 °C (190 °F) | HSDB | |
| 88 °C (190.4 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| Autoignition temperature | 482.22 °C (900 °F) | HSDB | |
| 495.56 °C (924 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 480 °C (896 °F) | ICSC | ||
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 1.8 % by volume | HSDB | |
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 40 % by volume | ICSC | |
| 1.8 % by volume | OSHA | ||
| Vapor density | 4.25 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 4.3 (air = 1) | CAMEO | ||
| 4.2 (air = 1) | ICSC | ||
| Odor threshold | Odor detection in air: 1.46x10-2 mg/l, purity not specified. | vapor | HSDB |
| Odor recogniton in air: 4.70x10-3 ppm, chemically pure. | HSDB | ||
| Odor detection in air: 1.90 ppm, chemically pure. | HSDB | ||
| Critical temperature and pressure | 446.67 °C (836 °F) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Nitrobenzene
Storage conditions
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated, dark location. Separate from acids, bases, oxidizing materials, and metals.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Incompatible materials
Explosive reaction with solid or concentrated alkalai + heat (eg, sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide), aluminum chloride + phenol (at 120 °C), aniline + glycerol + sulfuric acid, nitric + sulfuric acid + heat.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Reactivity
Aluminum chloride added to NITROBENZENE containing about 5% phenol caused a violent explosion [Chem. Eng. News 31:4915. 1953]. Heating a mixture of nitrobenzene, flake sodium hydroxide and a little water led to an explosion, discussed in [Bretherick's 5th ed. 1995]. Mixed with oxidants, i.e. dinitrogen tetraoxide, fluorodinitromethane, nitric acid, peroxodisulfuric acid, sodium chlorate, tetranitromethane, uranium perchlorate, etc., forms highly sensitive explosive, [Bretherick 5th ed, 1995]. Heated mixtures of nitrobenzene and tin(IV) chloride produce exothermic decomposition with gas production [Bretherick, 5th Ed., 1995].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Nitrobenzene in the storage compatibility matrix →
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