How was benzene was discovered?
1 Answer
Nov 11, 2015
Michael Faraday first isolated and identified benzene in 1825.
Explanation:
At that time, private and public buildings were lit by "portable gas", which was created by dropping whale or fish oil into a hot furnace.
The gas was compressed and stored in containers for use, but a liquid would condense when the gas was pressurized.
Faraday experimented with distilling this mixture, and in 1825 he succeeded in separating pure benzene.
Faraday's original sample still exists and is on display in the Faraday Museum in London, England.
