Go to MSN Homeencarta®
HomeEncyclopediaDictionariesWorld AtlasStudy CentreQuizzesMore
Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Click to move up the list of words
Benue-Congo
benumb
benz-
benzaldehyde
benzalkonium chloride
benzanthrone
benzathine penicillin
Benzedrine
benzene
benzene ring
benzine
benzo-
benzoate
benzocaine
benzodiazepine
benzoic acid
benzoin
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "benzene" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

benzene
benzene [ bén zeen ]


noun 
Definition:
 
toxic liquid from petroleum: a colourless volatile toxic liquid with a distinctive odour. Source: petroleum. Use: manufacture of dyes, polymers, and industrial chemicals. C6H6
Former name  benzol
[Mid-19th century. <benzoic]
Encarta® World English Dictionary [World English Edition] © & (P)2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.
Also on Encarta
• Featured columns
• Encarta's best lists
• Test your knowledge
Also on MSN
• Entertainment on MSN: Top Movies
• MSN Careers: Job Hunting Made Easy
• Today's News on MSN
Have Your Say
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Encarta Products
Upgrade your experience
© 2008 Microsoft