Xylene vs. Benzene — What's the Difference?

Xylene (from Greek ξύλον xylon, "wood"), xylol or dimethylbenzene is any one of three isomers of dimethylbenzene, or a combination thereof. With the formula (CH3)2C6H4, in each of the three compounds a benzene ring is substituted by two methyl groups.

Benzene is an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula C6H6. The benzene molecule is composed of six carbon atoms joined in a planar ring with one hydrogen atom attached to each.

Any of three colorless flammable isomeric benzene derivatives, C8H10, obtained from wood and coal tar.

A colorless, flammable, toxic, liquid aromatic hydrocarbon, C6H6, derived from petroleum and used in or to manufacture a wide variety of chemical products, including DDT, detergents, insecticides, and motor fuels. Also called benzol.

A mixture of xylene isomers used as a solvent in making lacquers and rubber cement and as an aviation fuel.

(organic compound) An aromatic hydrocarbon of formula C₆H₆ whose structure consists of a ring of alternate single and double bonds.

(chemistry) Any of a group of three isomeric aromatic hydrocarbons, found in coal and wood tar.

Sometimes used in place of the phenyl group.

Any of a group of three metameric hydrocarbons of the aromatic series, found in coal and wood tar, and so named because found in crude wood spirit. They are colorless, oily, inflammable liquids, C6H4.(CH3)2, being dimethyl benzenes, and are called respectively orthoxylene, metaxylene, and paraxylene. Called also xylol.

A volatile, very inflammable liquid, C6H6, contained in the naphtha produced by the destructive distillation of coal, from which it is separated by fractional distillation. The name is sometimes applied also to the impure commercial product or benzole, and also, but rarely, to a similar mixed product of petroleum.

A colorless flammable volatile liquid hydrocarbon used as a solvent

A colorless liquid hydrocarbon; highly inflammable; carcinogenic; the simplest of the aromatic compounds