moleculefinder

Benzene

C6H678.11 g/mol Calculated

Also called BNZ, benzol, bicarburet of hydrogen and phenyl hydride.

A perfect ring of six carbons, the pattern that defines aromatic chemistry. It is also in petrol and cigarette smoke and is a known carcinogen.

Sources and notes
  • The introductionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
  • Other namesfrom sourceWikidataIts English label and aliases on Wikidata.
  • Formula and weightcomputedPubChem
  • 2D drawingcomputedPubChem structure, drawn by RDKit
  • 3D modelfrom sourcePubChem 3D conformerLoaded after the page has painted, and on a phone only when you ask for it; the 2D drawing shows until it arrives.

Where you encounter it

Benzene on our curated lists.

Household

Paint and solvent
Fuel and flame
Sources and notes
  • Our curated lists and their amountsfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedEach amount is an editorial figure from our food and drink lists, not a measurement of any one product.
  • How it gets therefrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedEach mark is set by hand on our lists, never inferred; a label's ingredient is added by the maker. A row with no mark data says Not marked.
  • Paint and solvent: no markfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedA historic solvent, now restricted; current products should not contain it.
  • Fuel and flame: no markfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curatedPartly from the crude oil and partly made in refining.

Compare a related molecule

Benzene

Toluene

One methyl group apart.

Toluene is benzene with a methyl group; benzene is a known human carcinogen, while toluene is not classified as one because the body can oxidise that group.

Benzene vs Toluene, side by side
Sources and notes
  • The sentencefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
  • The two drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKitDrawn the same way round; the amber marks where the two differ.
  • The captionfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated

Properties and sources

Calculated by PubChem

Molecular formula
C6H6
Molecular weight
78.11 g/mol
XLogP3octanol/water, log units
2.1
Polar surface areatopological
0 Ų
H-bond donors
0
H-bond acceptors
0
Rotatable bonds
0
Complexity
15

Measured LD50, HSDB via PubChem

3,306 mg/kg pure benzene, rat, oral

An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person.

Reported Hazard label (GHS), ECHA, EU CLP Regulation, Safe Work Australia, HSDB via PubChem

Danger Flammable pictogram (GHS02), Irritant pictogram (GHS07) and Health hazard pictogram (GHS08); hazard statements H225, H304, H315, H319, H340, H350, H372, H401, H412

Groups it belongs to

Category
Everyday chemistry
Family
Aromatic hydrocarbons
Chemical groups
Aromatics
Product lists
Paint and solvent, Fuel and flame
Hazard classes
Flammable, Irritant, Health hazard, GHS Danger
Size
Under 100 g/mol
SMILESC1=CC=CC=C1

PubChem CID 241 · Wikidata Q2270 · InChIKey UHOVQNZJYSORNB-UHFFFAOYSA-N · Data refreshed

How MoleculeFinder sources and labels its data

Questions
What is Benzene?
A perfect ring of six carbons, the pattern that defines aromatic chemistry. It is also in petrol and cigarette smoke and is a known carcinogen.
Where is Benzene found?
Benzene is in these product groups: paint and solvent and fuel and flame. from source
How toxic is Benzene?
The reported LD50 of Benzene is 3,306 mg/kg (rat, oral). An LD50 is an animal study measurement, not a dose for a person. Its GHS hazard label carries the signal word Danger and the hazard pictograms Flammable, Irritant and Health hazard. from sourcefrom source
What kind of molecule is Benzene?
Benzene has the formula C6H6 and a molecular weight of 78.11 g/mol. MoleculeFinder files it under aromatic hydrocarbons, in the everyday chemistry group. from sourcefrom sourcefrom sourcefrom source
What else is Benzene called?
Benzene is also called BNZ, benzol, bicarburet of hydrogen and phenyl hydride. from source
Sources and notes
  • Calculated valuescomputedPubChemComputed from the structure, so no laboratory conditions apply; complexity is PubChem's own structural score.
  • LD50from sourceHSDB via PubChemOther values the sources report: rat, another route, 2.89 mg/kg. The page shows the one LD50 the site uses everywhere.
  • Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA, EU CLP Regulation, Safe Work Australia, HSDB via PubChemThe label combines these classifications.
  • ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
  • EU CLP Regulationfrom sourceAttributionSource: EUR-Lex, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008, © European Union.
  • Safe Work Australiafrom sourceAttributionSource: Safe Work Australia, Hazardous Chemical Information System, © Commonwealth of Australia, CC BY 4.0.
  • Data refreshedfrom sourceMoleculeFinder2026-11-09

Keep exploring

One methyl group apart.TolueneC7H8
Sources and notes
  • A group apartfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison captions
  • The drawingscomputedPubChem structures, drawn by RDKit