Xylenes
Xylenes are any one of three isomers of dimethylbenzene, or a combination thereof. All are colorless, flammable liquids composed of a central benzene ring with two methyl groups attached at substituents. They can be applied as precursor chemicals and solvents.
Xylenes are flammable petrochemical products that can be produced via catalytic reforming and coal carbonization during coke production and found in crude oil, gasoline, and aircraft fuel. Xylenes were first isolated from wood tar and named by the French chemist Auguste Cahours.
What Is Xylene?
Xylene, more appropriately called xylenes, refers to any single or combination of the three isomers of dimethylbenzene. The isomeric forms are designated as ortho- (o-), meta- (m-), and para- (p-), a reference to the carbon in the benzene ring to which the two methyl groups are attached.
- o-isomer: 1,2-dimethylbenzene
- m-isomer: 1,3-dimethylbenzene
- p-isomer: 1,4-dimethylbenzene
Xylenes are colorless and can be detected by odor at concentrations as low as 0.08 to 3.7 ppm in air and tasted in water at 0.53 to 1.8 ppm.
Refer to the Certificate of Analysis or the Safety Data Sheet for specific information about xylene density and safety hazards.
What Is Xylene Used For?
Industrial Uses
p-Xylene is a precursor to terephthalic acid and dimethyl terephthalate, used to make polyethylene terephthalate plastic bottles and polyester clothing.
Xylene can be used as a solvent and is a common component of ink, rubber, adhesives, and paint and varnish thinners. Xylenes may be used to clean steel, silicon wafers, and integrated circuits. Medical applications include use as a solvent of dental materials and ear wax.
Laboratory Uses
Xylene can be used with dry ice in baths, to remove oil from microscope objectives, and as a cleaning agent or mounting material in histology procedures.
Xylenes, Reagent, ACS, Spectrum™ Chemical
CAS: 1330-20-7 Molecular Formula: C8H10 Molecular Weight (g/mol): 106.17 InChI Key: IVSZLXZYQVIEFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N IUPAC Name: 1,3-xylene SMILES: CC1=CC(C)=CC=C1
Xylenes, Technical, Spectrum™ Chemical
CAS: 1330-20-7
p-Xylene, 99%, for HPLC
CAS: 106-42-3 Molecular Formula: C8H10 Molecular Weight (g/mol): 106.17 MDL Number: MFCD00008556 InChI Key: URLKBWYHVLBVBO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Synonym: p-xylene,para-xylene,1,4-dimethylbenzene,p-methyltoluene,p-dimethylbenzene,p-xylol,benzene, 1,4-dimethyl,4-xylene,chromar,4-methyltoluene PubChem CID: 7809 ChEBI: CHEBI:27417 IUPAC Name: 1,4-xylene SMILES: CC1=CC=C(C)C=C1
Xylenes, 99%, for biochemistry and histology, mixed isomers with ethylbenzene, AcroSeal™
CAS: 1330-20-7 Molecular Formula: C8H10 Molecular Weight (g/mol): 106.17 InChI Key: IVSZLXZYQVIEFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N IUPAC Name: 1,3-xylene SMILES: CC1=CC(C)=CC=C1
Xylenes, 98+%, for analysis, mixture of isomers
CAS: 1330-20-7 Molecular Formula: C8H10 Synonym: Dimethylbenzene
Xylenes, 98%, pure, mixture of isomers
CAS: 1330-20-7 Molecular Formula: C8H10 MDL Number: MFCD00077264 Synonym: Dimethylbenzene
Xylenes, 96%, pure, mixed isomers with ethylbenzene
CAS: 1330-20-7 Molecular Formula: C8H10 MDL Number: MFCD00077264 Synonym: Dimethylbenzene
Xylenes, extra pure, mixture of isomers
CAS: 1330-20-7 Molecular Formula: C8H10 Synonym: Dimethylbenzene
Xylenes, MilliporeSigma™
CAS: 1330-20-7 Molecular Formula: C8H10 Molecular Weight (g/mol): 106.17 InChI Key: IVSZLXZYQVIEFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N IUPAC Name: 1,3-xylene SMILES: CC1=CC(C)=CC=C1
Xylene Cyanole Indicator, 0.005%, Reagents
Xylene Cyanole Indicator, 0.005%, Reagent, for general laboratory use. Manufactured in ISO 9001 facility.
m-Xylene, 99%
CAS: 108-38-3 Molecular Formula: C8H10 Molecular Weight (g/mol): 106.17 MDL Number: MFCD00008536 InChI Key: IVSZLXZYQVIEFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Synonym: m-xylene,1,3-dimethylbenzene,m-xylol,m-dimethylbenzene,meta-xylene,m-methyltoluene,3-xylene,benzene, 1,3-dimethyl,1,3-dimethylbenzol,santosol 150 PubChem CID: 7929 ChEBI: CHEBI:28488 IUPAC Name: 1,3-xylene SMILES: CC1=CC(C)=CC=C1
o-Xylene, 99%, pure
CAS: 95-47-6 Molecular Formula: C8H10 Molecular Weight (g/mol): 106.17 MDL Number: MFCD00008519 InChI Key: CTQNGGLPUBDAKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Synonym: o-xylene,1,2-dimethylbenzene,ortho-xylene,o-xylol,o-methyltoluene,o-dimethylbenzene,2-xylene,3,4-xylene,benzene, 1,2-dimethyl,o-xylenes PubChem CID: 7237 ChEBI: CHEBI:28063 IUPAC Name: 1,2-xylene SMILES: CC1=CC=CC=C1C
Methyl 3,5-dimethylbenzoate, 98%
CAS: 25081-39-4 Molecular Formula: C10H12O2 Molecular Weight (g/mol): 164.204 MDL Number: MFCD00077971 InChI Key: PEVXENGLERTHJE-UHFFFAOYSA-N PubChem CID: 32786 IUPAC Name: methyl 3,5-dimethylbenzoate SMILES: CC1=CC(=CC(=C1)C(=O)OC)C