Toluene to Benzene

In this video I start with Toluene and end with Benzene. I know yield wasn't great, but this was more of a proof of concept then trying to stock up on reagents. Inspired by the works of:

http://www.youtube.com/user/myst32YT
http://www.youtube.com/user/ReactionFactory

I bought that flask from:

http://expediglass.com/

Let me know if you have any questions.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• make
• benzene
• toluene
• manganese
• dioxide
• benzoic
• acid

[FrankieFiveAces]

kickstarter.. to get donations for a new camera.. and maybe some equipment

do it.. i'll donate

[hkparker]

@FrankieFiveAces I'd never considered that but that isn't a terrible idea. If I still had access to my lab I would consider it but I'm away at college and haven't had the opportunity to film anything. I'll still be posting collaborative projects, including another SM fire project pretty soon.

[chemC2H5OH]

Very good video ! Can we use NaOH instead of CaO ? How benzene smells ?

[hkparker]

@chemC2H5OH Yes you can, though you might have some water to distill out after. Benzene smells... kinda hard to describe. like most volatile aromatics I guess.

[chemC2H5OH]

@hkparker I will try that in a testube (just to know the smell of benzene). It is cheaper to buy the benzoic acid directliy (about 10 $/kg on ebay) if you want to make a lot of benzene.

[hkparker]

@chemC2H5OH absolutely. If I wanted a sizable amount of benzene that is how I would do it.

[ApertureScience27]

Thanks so much for the link to expediglass, I've been looking for a good source of glassware. Surplus sites are good too, but not if you need something specific.

[LennoxRallenGunnar]

Thumbs up if you thought this pertained to the Vocaloid series of songs.

[Agentoxedo07]

Holy-Terrorist:>*=* Toluene to benzene, is possible to making benzene with toluene and hydrogen to make methane and benzene knowed in french Wikipedia!

I speak french and little english.

[hkparker]

@thegodofchemistry It will not produce a vacuum as it is not powerful enough and not designed to do that. It will work for pumping water through a condenser like I do here, but not as a vacuum pump.