CUMENE

PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION

CAS NO. 98-82-8

CUMENE

EINECS NO. 202-704-5
FORMULA C6H5CH(CH3)2
MOL WT. 120.19

H.S. CODE

 
TOXICITY Oral rat LD50: 1400 mg/kg
SYNONYMS 1-Methylethyl benzene; Isopropylbenzene; Cumeno; Cumène;
2-Phenylpropane; Cumol; Methyl ethyl benzene;
DERIVATION

 

CLASSIFICATION

 

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

PHYSICAL STATE clear liquid
MELTING POINT -96 C
BOILING POINT 152 - 154 C
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 0.86
SOLUBILITY IN WATER

Insoluble

pH 6 - 7
VAPOR DENSITY 4.1

AUTOIGNITION

420 C

NFPA RATINGS

Health: 2; Flammability: 3; Reactivity: 1

REFRACTIVE INDEX

 
FLASH POINT 31 C
STABILITY Stable under ordinary conditions. Hygroscopic.

APPLICATIONS

Cumene (isopropylbenzene) is a volatile, clear liquid at room temperature with a characteristic aromatic odor. It is insoluble in water but is soluble in nonpolar solvents including alcohol and ether. Cumene belongs to a member of simple alkyl aromatic hydrocarbons. It has an isopropyl substituent attached to benzene ring. Cumene is the parent material in the production of phenol and its co-product acetone. The by-products, alpha-methyl styrene abd acetophenone are produced during cumene process. Cumen is present in coal tar and petrolium. But most commerical cumene is symthesized from relatively inexpensive two basic materials, benzene and propene. Almost all comene is used for captive use to produce phenol and acetone. Cumene hydroperoxide, the intermediate druing cumene process, is commercially available. Cumene hydroperoxide is a colorless to pale yellow liquid chemical used as a polymerization inhibitor particularly in redox systems and to manufacture organic peroxides, primarily dicumylperoxide, which are used in the manufacture of plastic resins and as initiators in chemical reactions.  It is a strong free radical source containing more than 8.5% of active oxygen. The half-life temperatures are 158 C (for 10 hours), 190 C (1 for 1 hour) and 260 C (for 1 minute). It decomposes rapidly, causing fire and explosion hazard, on heating and under influence of light. It reacts violently with incompatible substances or ignition sources (acids, bases, reducing agents, and heavy metals). It should be stored in a dry and refrigerated (< 27C recommended or 38 C max) area and to keep away from reducing agents and incompatible substances.
SALES SPECIFICATION

APPEARANCE

clear liquid

CONTENT

99.9% min

IMPURITY

0.1% max

COLOR, APHA

15 max

BROMINE INDEX

100max

TRANSPORTATION

PACKING  
HAZARD CLASS 3 (Packing group: III)
UN NO. 1928
OTHER INFORMATION
Hazard Symbols: XN N, Risk Phrases: 10-37-51/53-65, Safety Phrases: 24-37-61-62