toluene etymology

Etymology

The word "toluene" comes from the Spanish word "tolu," which refers to the plant from which the resin known as "tolu balsam" is obtained. Tolu balsam was used in the 19th century as a source of benzyl alcohol, which could be converted to toluene by heating it with lye.

Meaning

Toluene is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5CH3. It is a colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive odor. Toluene is a hydrocarbon that is classified as an aromatic hydrocarbon. It is one of the three isomers of xylene, the other two being ortho-xylene and meta-xylene.

Origin

Toluene was first isolated from coal tar by the French chemist Philippe de Girard in 1838. He named it "toluène" after the plant from which tolu balsam is obtained. Toluene is also found in petroleum and is produced by the catalytic reforming of petroleum naphtha. It is also produced by the disproportionation of xylene.

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