| Molecular structure
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| General
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| Name | Biphenyl
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| Formula | C12H10
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| CAS | 92-52-4
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| Description | colourless, shiny plates
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| properties
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| Molecular mass | 154,21 g/mol
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| Density | 1,04 g/cm³
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| Melting point | 70 °C
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| Boiling point | 256 °C
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| vapor pressure | 0,07 hPa (20 °C)
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| Safety data
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| R & S lines | R: 36/37/38-50/53
S: (2-)23-60-61
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| Maximum concentration in working environment 1,0 mg/m³
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Unless otherwise stated, all data was produced under conditions of standard temperature and pressure.
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Biphenyl (or Diphenyl or 1,1'-Biphenyl or lemonene) is a solid compound that forms colourless to yellowish crystals. It has a particular smell. Biphenyl is an aromatic hydrocarbon with a molecular formula C12H10, It prevents the growth of moulds.
Properties
In water Biphenyl is unsoluble but it is soluble in organic solvents. The biphenyl molecule consists of two connected benzene rings and is therefore not very reactive.
The flashpoint is 113 °C and the autoignition temperature is 540 °C.
Use
Biphenyl is a Preservative (E230, in combination with E231, E232 and E233) particular in the preservation of citrus fruits as a antifungal agent during transportation. It is a starting material for the production of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and a host of other organic compounds.
Biphenyl is produced from tar destillation.
Literature
- Biphenyl (1,1- Biphenyl). Wiley/VCH, Weinh. (1991), ISBN 3527282777
- Note: English Wiki text translated from German original