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Toluene Properties
Toluene Storage and Dispensing
Toluene Safety and Transportation
Toluene Disposal
Toluene Fire Safety
Chemical Properties
Toluene reacts as a normal aromatic
hydrocarbon towards electrophilic aromatic substitution. The methyl group makes
it around 25 times more reactive than benzene in such reactions. It undergoes
smooth sulfonation to give p-toluenesulfonic acid, and chlorination by Cl2
in the presence of FeCl3 to give ortho and para isomers of
chlorotoluene. It undergoes nitration to give ortho and para nitrotoluene
isomers, but if heated it can give dinitrotoluene and ultimately the explosive
trinitrotoluene (TNT).
With other reagents the methyl side
chain in toluene may react, undergoing oxidation. Reaction with Potassium
permanganate leads to benzoic acid, whereas chromyl chloride leads to
benzaldehyde. Halogenation can be performed under free radical conditions. For
example, NBS heated with toluene in the presence of AIBN leads to benzyl
bromide.
Catalytic hydrogenation of toluene to
methylcyclohexane requires a high pressure of hydrogen to go to completion,
because of the stability of the aromatic system.
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Physical Properties |
| Molecular weight |
92.14 |
| Boiling point |
110.62°C |
| Vapor pressure |
28.5 Torr at 20°C |
| Freezing point |
-94.99°C |
| Refractive index |
1.4969 at 20°C |
| Density |
0.8669 g/mL (7.234 lb/gal) at 20°C |
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0.8623 g/mL (7.196 lb/gal) at 25°C |
| Dielectric constant |
2.38 at 25°C |
| Dipole moment |
0.31 D at 20°C |
| Solvent group |
7 |
| Polarity index (P') |
2.4 |
| Eluotropic value on alumina |
0.29 |
| Viscosity |
0.59 cP at 20°C |
| Surface tension |
28.53 dyn/cm at 20°C |
| Solubility in water |
0.052% at 25°C |
| Solubility of water in toluene |
0.033% at 25°C |
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| Regulatory and
Safety Data |
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| DOT Hazard Class |
3, Flammable Liquid |
| Packing Group |
II |
| UN Identification Number |
UN1294 |
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| Storage |
Store in an area designed for flammable storage, or
in an approved metal cabinet, away from direct sunlight, heat and sources of
ignition. |
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| EPA applicable waste code(s) |
D001, U220, F005 |
| Flash point |
40°F (4°C) by closed cup |
| Lower explosive limit |
1.1% |
| Upper explosive limit |
7.1% |
| Time Weighted Average |
50 ppm ACGIH |
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