Chemistry Experiment:Synthesis of Benzene by Dry Distillation

[whoknows2012]

What exactly is it you do as a chemist? I ask because I am studying to be a chemist and it looks like you have a pretty cool job.

[ytmachx]

@whoknows2012 I am not a chemist. It's just a hobby.

[MrPiano2525]

The improvised reaction basin/metal container: what type of gas tank is this? is everything attachable or does it have to be welded/soldered?

[ytmachx]

@MrPiano2525 The fittings are welded to the vessel, (they are threaded fittings), allowing removal of the still exit and the loading plug/cover. It is an old freon tank.

[MrSmudger687]

That distillation apparatus should be sealed if possible, benzene being a carcinogen and all. And it doesnt look especially well ventilated where you are.

[ytmachx]

@MrSmudger687 Look again. You haven't looked especially well.

[dekitai20]

how do you get rid of your benzene wastes?

[ytmachx]

@dekitai20 There are places that accept/ receive hazardous wastes.

[dekitai20]

@ytmachx So you put your waste in a bottle and bring it to the center near you? how do you wash your apparatus? with acetone? If so, you you also bring the acetone washing to the processing center? Thanks for answering :)

[ytmachx]

@dekitai20 Yeah and the glass is washed with MeOH/KOH.

[dekitai20]

@ytmachx great, Thanks

[vmelkon]

Does it freeze at 5.5 °C?

[ytmachx]

@vmelkon Yes

[ytmachx]

@h0meIandsecurity No, not at all.

[TheBubaSqua]

Is the first distillation done in a non glass retort because of messy residue?

[ytmachx]

@TheBubaSqua It is because glass will break. Metal can get red hot without any problems.

[10BladeRunner]

Cool

[vmelkon]

Interesting reaction. I didn't even know that benzoate had a benzene ring :)

[ytmachx]

@vmelkon Quite a few things do.

[Manulepoilu]

Ok. Great. Take care. All the best ! Thanks so much for your kind cooperation.

[Manulepoilu]

Thanks for your reply. I'm sorry to bother you again but I can't find a translation for the three letters OTC. Do you know what it means ? Thanks again and I promise not to bother you anymore !!! Cheers.

[ytmachx]

@Manulepoilu Over The Counter

[Manulepoilu]

Ok, Thanks for replying. and one last question if you don't mind. To have this quantity of benzene, how many sodium benzoate and calcium hydroxyde did you use ? It's because, I would roughly know the yield ! Thanks anyway. Take care. All the best. Manulepoilu.

[ytmachx]

@Manulepoilu I used more than 5lbs of sodium benzoate

[Manulepoilu]

Hello again, do you think it could work if I use a flask and a flask heater ? If you don't know, don't mind. I will try. I've changed now my whole benzoic acid I got into the sodium salt. I think, the quicklime was not appropriated because of its oxidizing character. Anyway. Take care. Best regards from Geneva-Switzerland.

[ytmachx]

@Manulepoilu Glass doesn't work well because it breaks when heated with a dry powder inside. Lime works well for the process.

[Manulepoilu]

Hello ! Your video is very interesting. Can you tell me at which temperature °C, the reaction starts ? I've tried with benzoïc acid and quicklime, but the result was not really the same as yours. Thanks for replying.

[ytmachx]

@Manulepoilu I really don't know the reaction temperature but, the bottom of the reaction vessel is red hot when it's working good.

[lexichronicle2]

I remember thinking benzene was a particularly nice molecule in chemistry, the idea of it being so simple, and having those double bonds resonating around inside them. it was at those early stages, realizing that the precise pictures in the textbooks aren't always precise. "the bonds aren't in any one place all of the time". same with electron orbits, that they're like shells of energy as opposed to two dots floating around

[lexichronicle2]

ah, nice, nice.... a very handy solvent, and not one that's at all readily available due to the cancer issues of supplying it OTC.

for those worried about the cancer, it's worth noting that sodium benzoate is a preservative. if you eat a lot of preprocessed food / drink concentrate based beverages, there's a good chance it'll be in there.

as the products are stored on the shelves, the preservative breaks down, releasing benzene.

which you then eat.

[viclorwow]

is there any way to get benzene out of gasoline? I know there is around 5% in regular gasoline.

[ytmachx]

@viclorwow I don't know if gasoline can be successfully fractionated, or if it is worth the trouble.

[Chaoschemiker]

Nice bulk-preparation!

Are you going to rectify/dry your benzene of this experiment?/Will you try to get pure benzene by bulk-rectification of gasoline?

[ytmachx]

@Chaoschemiker Yes, I dried the benzene.

[drdanielcs]

so does calcium not react with benzene to create a calcium benzoate salt

[ytmachx]

@drdanielcs I don't think so. The residue that is left over is like ash.

[Hydroxybenzeen]

Nice experiment,!

But don't you use good ventilation?? Benzene is well know to be a carcinogen!! (long therm exposure might cause forms of leukeamia).

I allso wan't tot try to make me some benzene, I've got al chemicals to do this synthesis and benzene is a very good starting product for a whole spectrum of organic synthesises. (p-nitrobenzene, benzochinon and so on)

[ytmachx]

@Hydroxybenzeen Benzene isn't cyanide. The key words here are "long term exposure". Cigarettes are carcinogenic also. How many do you have to smoke to get cancer?

[hydrus77]

Will you make Benzedrine, I need to know for a class experiment *shifty eyes*

[ytmachx]

@hydrus77 Sorry, but ,No.

[mewrox99]

@hydrus77

Go to a doctor and fake ADHD, say that MPH had bad side effects but you used Adderell as a kid and it was good. Say that you can't concentrate and that it's affecting your whole life.

lol /stim/

[norxcontacts]

What did you use the benzene for?

[ytmachx]

I haven't done anything with it.

[ytmachx]

Yes, that was chlorine gas. Very nasty sometimes, especially in quantity!

[Myfanwy94]

elektrolysis of salt water gives chlorine gas.

red colour is maybe a metallchloride from the chlorine reacting with the metall electrodes.

[joshhardwick81]

This process doesnt seem that safe. For example you've got a flask containing an organic compound with the lid off! Benzene is a known carcinogenic, so I wouldnt think it that wise to have the lid off a flask containing it for a prolonged period!

You're lab doesnt seem that safe either, benzene should be used only in a safe environment with proper ventilation.

[ytmachx]

I was using benzene with rags in my bare hands by the gallon to clean printing presses...before you were born. I have a lot of experience with benzene.

Did you watch the whole video???????

How did you get your experience?

[joshhardwick81]

@ytmachx

You dont need experience handling benzene to know that its unsafe to use it in your garage without proper equipment and safety procedures! Just making a point that people shouldnt mess around with organic chemicals.

Do you think experience with benzene will protect you from the health risks associated with it? I think not,

[ytmachx]

You are just a Troll regurgitating something you've read somewhere. You have no real knowledge of the health risks. Cigarettes are carcinogenic too. Why don't you go inform the word about how dangerous they are???

[MagicJigPipe]

@joshhardwick81 Hmmmm... what about that ~1% benzene that is in the gasoline that you "mess around" with probably everyday.  Better get someone else to pump your gas for you. And don't park your car in your garage because aromatic organic chemicals are bad for your health, right? Do you hear yourself?

[MagicJigPipe]

@MagicJigPipe Not to mention, what the fuck do you care even if this was extremely dangerous? Is he not his own person? Can he not do what he wants? It's fucks like you that try to outlaw smoking and eating too much.

[dabomb1357]

If you've tried it, do you find any differance between using sodium hydroxide (lye) instead of the calcium hydoxide?

[ytmachx]

Yes, I have used both. With sodium hydroxide, I use less and achieve the same result. It is more expensive though and more care needs to be taken.

[TheAmateurChemist]

How much did you pay for your distillation apparatus?

[ytmachx]

The metal apparatus was mostly free/ low cost. The glassware and mantle was bought mostly on ebay. I couldn't put a exact figure on it. Maybe $150?

[evsonjunior]

why you use a metal apparatus instead the traditional glass apparatus?

[ytmachx]

Glass breaks when it's heated in dry distillation.

[liquidgrain]

Approximately how many grams of sodium benzoate did you use to produce such a yeild? 5/5!

[ytmachx]

The 1400ml pictured is from several runs. Several lbs. of sodium benzoate were used.

[leeo67]

what do you do with the benzeen

[ytmachx]

Benzene is a very good solvent that has been replaced largely by toluene due to its toxicity and carcinogenic properties.

[myst32YT]

Very Cool!!

[kaviaari]

Huge apparatus! What was the yield?

[ytmachx]

Approx. 1.4 liters

[kicsiatom]

It's great!