Boiling point of benzene: chemical properties and industrial applications
What is the boiling point of benzene? Benzene (C6H6) is an important organic compound, as a typical representative of aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene has a wide range of applications in the chemical industry. It is a colourless liquid with a special aromatic odour and is mainly used in the manufacture of plastics, synthetic fibres, rubber, dyes, pharmaceuticals and so on. In various industrial processes, understanding the boiling point of benzene is important for temperature control, substance separation and safety management in chemical operations.
What is the boiling point of benzene?
The boiling point of benzene is 80.1°C (176.2°F). This temperature is measured at 1 atmosphere (101.3 kPa). Benzene’s relatively low boiling point is largely attributable to its molecular structure and physical properties. As a six-membered cyclic molecule, benzene has off-domain π-electrons in the molecule, which gives it stability, but weak intermolecular forces cause it to vaporise at lower temperatures. This property is critical to the distillation and rectification processes of benzene.
Factors affecting the boiling point of benzene
Although the standard boiling point of benzene is 80.1°C, in practice the boiling point of benzene can be affected by the external environment. The main factors affecting the boiling point of benzene include:
Effect of pressure: The boiling point of benzene varies with pressure. At lower pressures, such as in a vacuum environment, the boiling point of benzene decreases. This is one of the principles of the reduced pressure distillation technique commonly used in the chemical industry, which enables the separation of benzene at lower temperatures and avoids thermal degradation of the substance by high temperatures.

Effect of purity: The purity of industrial benzene also has an effect on its boiling point. Benzene containing impurities may have a slightly higher or lower boiling point, depending on the nature of the impurities. This is why controlling the purity of benzene is particularly important in high-precision industrial applications.

Boiling point of benzene and industrial applications
Understanding the boiling point of benzene is not just necessary for chemical theory; it has practical significance in industrial applications. Benzene is widely used in refineries and chemical plants, and its separation and purification are often achieved through distillation or rectification processes. Information on the boiling point of benzene helps engineers determine appropriate operating conditions to ensure efficient separation of the target product and reduce energy consumption.
In distillation columns, benzene can be separated from other compounds, such as toluene and ethylbenzene, by adjusting temperature and pressure. Precise control of these processes requires engineers to know the boiling point and other physical properties of benzene to ensure process stability and economics.
To summarise
The boiling point of benzene is a key physical constant that marks the temperature at which benzene changes from a liquid to a gaseous state. In industrial production, understanding the boiling point of benzene can help optimise chemical processes, ensure product quality and improve production efficiency. Therefore, it is crucial for chemical engineers to know the exact value and factors affecting the boiling point of benzene.
Through the analysis in this article, readers will not only have a clear understanding of what the boiling point of benzene is, but also learn about the key factors affecting the boiling point and its practical application in industry.