Benzene

ben′zēn, n. a compound of carbon and hydrogen, discovered by Faraday in 1825, in a tarry liquid resulting from the distillation of oil. It is found amongst the products of the destructive distillation of a great many organic bodies, but the most abundant source is coal-tar. It must not be confounded with benzine or benzoyl , which names have at different times been used for benzene.— Ben′zine is the name given to a distillate from American petroleum, which is much used as a substitute for turpentine, and for di olving oils and fats; Ben′zoyl is the commercial name applied to a mixture of substances, including benzene and its homologues.— Ben′zol is synonymous with benzene, while Ben′zoline is a name applied to benzine and impure benzene indiscriminately.