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1,2,4 Trimethylbenzene

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Appearance
  
Colorless liquid

Formula
  
C9H12

Melting point
  
-43.78 °C

Molar mass
  
120.19 g/mol

Density
  
876 kg/m³

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 124TRIMETHYLBENZENE CAS 95636 02300215 MP Biomedicals

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, also known as pseudocumene, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H3(CH3)3. Classified as an aromatic hydrocarbon, it is a flammable colorless liquid with a strong odor. It is nearly insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. It occurs naturally in coal tar and petroleum (about 3%).

Contents

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene wwwchemspidercomImagesHandlerashxid6977ampw25

Production

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 124Trimethylbenzene 98 SigmaAldrich

Industrially, it is isolated from the C9 aromatic hydrocarbon fraction during petroleum distillation. Approximately 40% of this fraction is 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene. It is also generated by methylation of toluene and xylenes and the disproportionation of xylene over aluminosilicate catalysts.

Uses

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene 124trimethylbenzene C9H12 ChemSynthesis

Pseudocumene is a precursor to mellitic anhydride, from which high performance polymers are made. It is also used as a sterilizing agent and in the manufacture of dyes, perfumes, and resins. Another major use is as a gasoline additive.

Scintillator

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene pseudocumene Kovats Retention Index

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene dissolved in mineral oil is used as a liquid scintillator in particle physics experiments such as NOνA and Borexino.

References

1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene Wikipedia