An old engraving showing the iron pots needed to manufacture nitrobenzene (nitrobenzol or nitro-benzol) from benzene in the mid 1800s. It is from a Victorian book of the 1890s on discoveries and inventions during the 1800s. Benzene is a constituent of crude oil. It is a colourless, highly flammable, sweet-smelling liquid. Thick iron pots were to avoid explosions caused by heat produced in the manufacturing process. The pots were continuously stirred by the large paddle. Nitrobenzene was first prepared in 1834 by the German chemist Eilhardt Mitscherlich and is used to mask unpleasant odours.
An old engraving showing interior of an iron pots needed to manufacture nitrobenzene (nitrobenzol or nitro-benzol) from benzene in the mid 1800s. It is from a Victorian book of the 1890s on discoveries and inventions during the 1800s. Benzene is a natural constituent of crude oil and is classed as an aromatic hydrocarbon. Benzene is a colourless, highly flammable, sweet-smelling liquid. The thick iron pots illustrated were to avoid explosions caused by the heat produced in the manufacturing process when the benzene was mixed with nitric and sulphuric acids. The pots were continuously stirred by the large paddle. Cooling water was used above the pots. The process took several days. Nitrobenzene is an organic compound produced on a large scale from benzene as a first stage in making aniline. Nitrobenzene was first prepared in 1834 by the German chemist Eilhardt Mitscherlich. Commercially nitrobenzene is used to mask unpleasant odours in shoe and floor polishes, leather dressings, paint solvents, and other materials. Re-distilled, as oil of mirbane, it was used as an inexpensive perfume for soaps. It was replaced by less toxic chemicals for this purpose.
Size: 2287px × 3780px
Location: Germany
Photo credit: © M&N / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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