toluene

American  

[tol-yoo-een] / ˈtɒl juˌin /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, water-insoluble, flammable liquid, C 7 H 8 , having a benzenelike odor, obtained chiefly from coal tar and petroleum: used as a solvent in the manufacture of benzoic acid, benzaldehyde, TNT, and other organic compounds.

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toluene British  

/ ˈtɒljʊˌiːn /

noun

1. a colourless volatile flammable liquid with an odour resembling that of benzene, obtained from petroleum and coal tar and used as a solvent and in the manufacture of many organic chemicals. Formula: C 6 H 5 CH 3

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toluene Scientific  

/ tŏl′yo̅o̅-ēn′ /

1. A clear, toxic, flammable liquid that is used in fuels, explosives, dyes, medicines, and many industrial chemicals. Toluene consists of a methyl group attached to benzene. Also called methylbenzene. Chemical formula: C ₇ H ₈ .

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Etymology

Origin of toluene

First recorded in 1870–75; tolu + -ene

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

toluene

They included several types of phthalates, chemicals used to make plastics flexible; chloroform, a toxic byproduct from disinfecting water with chlorine; and toluene, a hazardous substance found in vehicle exhaust.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 11, 2024

This includes extremely challenging aromatic molecules with very high oxidation potentials such as naphthalene, toluene, or benzene.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 9, 2024

In waxes that are not so pure, semi-volatile and volatile organic compounds like toluene, contained within the wax, can be released with burning.

From National Geographic ● Sep. 27, 2023

Wells, storage tanks and other equipment release a mix of particularly hazardous petroleum-based gases known as BTEX, for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene.

From Salon ● Apr. 18, 2023

By the action of chlorine upon the vapour of boiling toluene there are obtained, according to the extent of the action of the chlorine, three liquids of use to the colour manufacturer.

From Coal and What We Get from It by Meldola, Raphael