m-Xylene
m-Xylene (meta-xylene) is an aromatic hydrocarbon. It is one of the three isomers of dimethylbenzene known collectively as xylenes. The m- stands for meta-, indicating that the two methyl groups in m-xylene occupy positions 1 and 3 on a benzene ring. It is in the positions of the two methyl groups, their arene substitution pattern, that it differs from the other isomers, o-xylene and p-xylene. All have the same chemical formula C6H4(CH3)2. All xylene isomers are colorless and highly flammable.[5]
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Names | |||
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Preferred IUPAC name
1,3-Xylene | |||
Systematic IUPAC name
3-Methyltoluene | |||
Other names
m-Xylene | |||
Identifiers | |||
3D model (JSmol) |
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ChEBI | |||
ChEMBL | |||
ChemSpider | |||
ECHA InfoCard | 100.003.252 | ||
KEGG | |||
PubChem CID |
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RTECS number |
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UNII | |||
CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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Properties | |||
C8H10 | |||
Molar mass | 106.16 g/mol | ||
Appearance | Colorless liquid | ||
Density | 0.86 g/mL | ||
Melting point | −48 °C (−54 °F; 225 K) | ||
Boiling point | 139 °C (282 °F; 412 K) | ||
insoluble | |||
Solubility in ethanol | miscible | ||
Solubility in diethyl ether | miscible | ||
Vapor pressure | 9 mmHg (20°C)[1] | ||
-76.56·10−6 cm3/mol | |||
Refractive index (nD) |
1.49722 | ||
Viscosity | 0.8059 cP at 0 °C 0.6200 cP at 20 °C | ||
0.33-0.37 D[2] | |||
Hazards | |||
Main hazards | Harmful or fatal if swallowed. Vapor harmful. Flammable liquid and vapor. | ||
Safety data sheet | See: data page External MSDS | ||
R-phrases (outdated) | R10 R20 R21 R38 | ||
S-phrases (outdated) | S25 | ||
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |||
Flash point | 27 °C (81 °F; 300 K) [3] | ||
527 °C (981 °F; 800 K)[3] | |||
Explosive limits | 1.1%-7.0%[1] | ||
Threshold limit value (TLV) |
100 ppm[3] (TWA), 150 ppm[3] (STEL) | ||
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |||
LCLo (lowest published) |
2010 ppm (mouse, 24 hr) 8000 ppm (rat, 4 hr)[4] | ||
NIOSH (US health exposure limits): | |||
PEL (Permissible) |
TWA 100 ppm (435 mg/m3)[1] | ||
REL (Recommended) |
TWA 100 ppm (435 mg/m3) ST 150 ppm (655 mg/m3)[1] | ||
IDLH (Immediate danger) |
900 ppm[1] | ||
Related compounds | |||
Related aromatic hydrocarbons |
benzene toluene o-xylene p-xylene | ||
Supplementary data page | |||
Refractive index (n), Dielectric constant (εr), etc. | |||
Thermodynamic data |
Phase behaviour solid–liquid–gas | ||
UV, IR, NMR, MS | |||
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). | |||
Infobox references | |||
Production and use
Petroleum contains about 1 weight percent xylenes.[6]
The major use of meta-xylene is in the production of isophthalic acid, which is used as a copolymerizing monomer to alter the properties of polyethylene terephthalate. The conversion m-xylene to isophthalic acid entails catalytic oxidation. meta-Xylene is also used as a raw material in the manufacture of 2,4- and 2,6-xylidine as well as a range of smaller-volume chemicals.[7][5] Ammoxidation gives isophthalonitrile.
Toxicity and exposure
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.[5]
See also
References
- NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0669". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
- DeanHandb, Lange´s Handbook of chemistry, 15th edition,1999.
- "m-Xylene". International Chemical Safety Cards. IPCS/NIOSH. July 1, 2014. Archived from the original on December 5, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
- "Xylene (o-, m-, p-isomers)". Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health Concentrations (IDLH). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
- Fabri, Jörg; Graeser, Ulrich; Simo, Thomas A. (2000). "Xylenes". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi:10.1002/14356007.a28_433.
- EPA-454/R-93-048 Locating and estimating air emissions from sources of xylene Emission Inventory Branch Technical Support Division Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards U.S. Environmental Protection Agency March 1994
- Ashford's Dictionary of Industrial Chemicals, third edition, page 9692.