Benzene is a colorless volatile liquid
hydrocarbon that is present in coal tar and crude oil, it is used in
chemical synthesis. Benzene main use is as an intermediate to produce
other chemicals. 80% of benzene is used in the production of three
chemicals, ethylbenzene, cyclohexane and cumene. Although it most widely
used for ethylbenzene which is a precursor to styrene which then makes
plastics and polymers. Cyclohexane is for the manufacture of nylon and
cumene is converted into phenol for resins and adhesives. It is also an
important component of gasoline consisting of a small percent of its
mass.
METHANOL
Methanol
is a colorless, toxic volatile flammable liquid alcohol. It was
original made by distillation from wood. Today most of the methanol
produced in the U.S. comes from natural gas. Methanol has many uses but
it is most often used as chemical feedstock to be converted into
formaldehyde, acetic acid and olefins.
