Paraxylene - C₈H₁₀ - (CAS# - 106-42-3)

Paraxylene (PX) is an aromatic hydrocarbon and a derivative of benzene. Here are the details for paraxylene:

 Chemical Name: Paraxylene

 CAS Number: 106-42-3

 Molecular Formula: C₈H₁₀

 Structure:

 The structure consists of a benzene ring with two methyl groups (CH₃) attached to the 1 and 4 positions (para positions).

 IUPAC Name: 1,4-Dimethylbenzene

 Key Properties

Molecular Weight: 106.17 g/mol

Appearance: Colorless liquid

Density: 0.861 g/cm³ at 20°C

Boiling Point: 138-139°C

Melting Point: 13-14°C

Solubility: Insoluble in water, but soluble in organic solvents such as ethanol, ether, and benzene.

 Applications

Paraxylene is primarily used as a raw material in the production of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), which are precursors for the manufacture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) used in fibers, films, and plastic bottles.