benzine

benzine (ben'zēn, benzēn') [key], colorless, highly flammable liquid. It is used as a cleaning agent because it is a solvent for organic substances such as fats, oils, and resins and is also used in the preparation of certain dyes and paints. Benzine is a mixture of hydrocarbons, chiefly alkanes such as pentane and hexane. It is obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

• • Cite
  • Print
  • Email
  • Bookmark
    • Add bookmark
    • Add to del.icio.us
    • Digg It!
    • Add to Reddit