o-Xylene (ortho-xylene) is an aromatic hydrocarbon with the formula C6H4(CH3)2, with two methyl substituents bonded to adjacent carbon atoms of a benzene ring (the ortho configuration). It is a constitutional isomer of m-xylene and p-xylene, the mixture being called xylene or xylenes. o-Xylene is a colourless slightly oily flammable liquid.[7]

o-Xylene
Skeletal formula
Skeletal formula
Space-filling model
Space-filling model
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
1,2-Xylene[1]
Systematic IUPAC name
1,2-Dimethylbenzene[1]
Other names
o-Xylene,[1] o-Xylol
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
1815558
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.002.203 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 202-422-2
67796
KEGG
RTECS number
  • ZE2450000
UNII
UN number 1307
  • InChI=1S/C8H10/c1-7-5-3-4-6-8(7)2/h3-6H,1-2H3 checkY
    Key: CTQNGGLPUBDAKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/C8H10/c1-7-5-3-4-6-8(7)2/h3-6H,1-2H3
    Key: CTQNGGLPUBDAKN-UHFFFAOYAE
  • CC1=C(C)C=CC=C1
Properties
C8H10
Molar mass 106.168 g·mol−1
Appearance Colorless liquid
Density 0.88 g/ml
Melting point −24 °C (−11 °F; 249 K)
Boiling point 144.4 °C (291.9 °F; 417.5 K)
0.02% (20°C)[2]
Solubility in ethanol very soluble
Solubility in diethyl ether very soluble
Vapor pressure 7 mmHg (20°C)[2]
-77.78·10−6 cm3/mol
1.50545
Viscosity 1.1049 cP at 0 °C
0.8102 cP at 20 °C
Structure
0.64 D[3]
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards
Mildly toxic
GHS labelling:
GHS02: FlammableGHS07: Exclamation markGHS08: Health hazard
Danger
H225, H226, H304, H305, H312, H315, H319, H332, H335, H412
P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P261, P264, P271, P273, P280, P301 P310, P302 P352, P303 P361 P353, P304 P312, P304 P340, P305 P351 P338, P312, P321, P322, P331, P332 P313, P337 P313, P362, P363, P370 P378, P403 P233, P403 P235, P405, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformFlammability 3: Liquids and solids that can be ignited under almost all ambient temperature conditions. Flash point between 23 and 38 °C (73 and 100 °F). E.g. gasolineInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
2
3
0
Flash point 32 °C (90 °F; 305 K)
463 °C (865 °F; 736 K)[4]
Explosive limits 0.9%-6.7%[2]
100 ppm[4] (TWA), 150 ppm[4] (STEL)
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
4300 mg/kg (rats, orally)[5]
6125 ppm (rat, 12 hr)
6125 ppm (human, 12 hr)[6]
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
TWA 100 ppm (435 mg/m3)[2]
REL (Recommended)
TWA 100 ppm (435 mg/m3) ST 150 ppm (655 mg/m3)[2]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
900 ppm[2]
Safety data sheet (SDS) External MSDS
Related compounds
m-xylene
p-xylene
toluene
Supplementary data page
O-Xylene (data page)
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Production and use

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Petroleum contains about one weight percent xylenes. Most o-xylene is produced by cracking petroleum, which affords a distribution of aromatic compounds, including xylene isomers. m-Xylene is isomerized to o-xylene. Net production was approximately 500,000 tons in the year 2000.

o-Xylene is largely used in the production of phthalic anhydride, which is a precursor to many materials, drugs, and other chemicals.[7] Related to their easy oxidation, the methyl groups are susceptible to halogenation. When treated with elemental bromine, these groups are brominated, yielding xylylene dibromide:[8]

C6H4(CH3)2 2 Br2 → C6H4(CH2Br)2 2 HBr

Toxicity and exposure

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Xylenes are not acutely toxic, for example the LD50 (rat, oral) is 4300 mg/kg. Effects vary with animal and xylene isomer. Concerns with xylenes focus on narcotic effects.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Nomenclature of Organic Chemistry : IUPAC Recommendations and Preferred Names 2013 (Blue Book). Cambridge: The Royal Society of Chemistry. 2014. pp. 121, 139, 653. doi:10.1039/9781849733069. ISBN 978-0-85404-182-4.
  2. ^ a b c d e f NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0668". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  3. ^ Rudolph, H.D.; Walzer, K.; Krutzik, Irmhild (1973). "Microwave spectrum, barrier for methyl rotation, methyl conformation, and dipole moment of ortho-xylene". Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy. 47 (2): 314. Bibcode:1973JMoSp..47..314R. doi:10.1016/0022-2852(73)90016-7.
  4. ^ a b c "o-Xylene". International Chemical Safety Cards. ICSC/NIOSH. July 1, 2014.
  5. ^ O-xylene toxicity
  6. ^ "Xylene (o-, m-, p-isomers)". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  7. ^ a b c Fabri, Jörg; Graeser, Ulrich; Simo, Thomas A. (2000). "Xylenes". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a28_433. ISBN 978-3527306732.
  8. ^ Emily F. M. Stephenson (1954). "o-Xylylene Dibromide". Organic Syntheses. 34: 100. doi:10.15227/orgsyn.034.0100.