Monograph

pubs.acs.org/doi/book/10.1021/acsreagents

Toluene
(Methylbenzene)
Part 4, Monographs for Reagent Chemicals: General Descriptions, Specifications, and Tests
eISBN: 9780841230460
Tom Tyner Chair, ACS Committee on Analytical Reagents
James Francis Secretary, ACS Committee on Analytical Reagents
Downloaded from pubs.acs.org by UNIV OF LOUISIANA AT LAFAYETTE on 01/11/19. For personal use only.

A u t h o r i t a t i v e V e r s i o n : This version is current as of 01 Jun 2016.

ABSTRACT
This monograph for Toluene provides, in addition to common physical constants, a general description including typical
appearance, applications, change in state (approximate), aqueous solubility, density, and pKa. The monograph also
details the following specifications and corresponding tests for verifying that a substance meets ACS Reagent Grade
specifications including: Assay, Color (APHA), Residue after Evaporation, Substances Darkened by Sulfuric Acid, Sulfur
Compounds, Water, and Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry.
ACS Reagent Chemicals

C6H5CH3 Formula Wt 92.14 CAS No. 108-88-3

SUPPLEMENTS & UPDATES

Published Authoritative Expired Type Summary Other Versions

28 Feb 2017 01 Jun 2016 Original First on-line publication, based on 11th ed.

Suitable for general use or in ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Product labeling shall designate the uses for which suitability is
represented on the basis of meeting the relevant specifications and tests. The ultraviolet spectrophotometry specifications
include all of the specifications for general use.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Typical appearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . clear, colorless liquid

Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . solvent
Change in state (approximate) . . . . . . . . . . . . boiling point, 111 °C

DOI:10.1021/acsreagents.4409.20160601
© 2017 American Chemical Society A ACS Reagent Chemicals, Part 4
ACS Reagent Chemicals Monograph

pubs.acs.org/doi/book/10.1021/acsreagents

Aqueous solubility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.045 g in 100 mL at 25 °C

Density . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.87
pKa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

SPECIFICATIONS
General Use

Assay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ≥99.5% C6H5CH3

Maximum Allowable
Color (APHA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Residue after evaporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.001%
Substances darkened by sulfuric acid . . . . . . . Passes test
Sulfur compounds (as S) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.003%
Water (H2O) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.03%

Specific Use

Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry
Wavelength (nm) Absorbance (AU)
350–400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.01
335 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.02
310 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.05
300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.10
293 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.20
288 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.50
286 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.00

TESTS
Assay
Analyze the sample by gas chromatography using the general parameters cited in [Part 2: Chromatography; Recommended
Procedures; Gas Chromatography]. The following specific conditions are also required.

Column . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Type I, methyl silicone

Measure the area under all peaks, and calculate the toluene content in area percent. Correct for water content.

Color (APHA)
[Part 2: Measurement of Physical Properties; Color (APHA); Procedure for Color (APHA)].

DOI:10.1021/acsreagents.4409.20160601
© 2017 American Chemical Society B ACS Reagent Chemicals, Part 4
ACS Reagent Chemicals Monograph

pubs.acs.org/doi/book/10.1021/acsreagents

Residue after Evaporation

[Part 2: Gravimetric Methods; Residue after Evaporation]. Evaporate 100.0 g (115 mL) to dryness in a tared, preconditioned
dish on a hot plate (~100 °C), and dry the residue at 105 °C for 30 min.

Substances Darkened by Sulfuric Acid

Shake 15 mL with 5 mL of sulfuric acid for 15–20 s, and allow to stand for 15 min. The toluene layer should be colorless, and
the color of the acid should not exceed that of a color standard composed of 2 volumes of water plus 1 volume of a color
standard solution (described below).

For the Determination of Substances Darkened by Sulfuric Acid

C o l o r S t a n d a r d S o l u t i o n . In a 1 L volumetric flask, add 5 g of cobalt chloride hexahydrate, 40 g of ferric chloride

hexahydrate, and 20 mL of hydrochloric acid. Dilute to the mark with water.

Sulfur Compounds
Place 30 mL of approximately 0.5 N potassium hydroxide in methanol in a conical flask, add 5.0 g (6.0 mL) of the sample,
and boil the mixture gently for 30 min under a reflux condenser, avoiding the use of a rubber stopper or connection. Detach
the condenser, dilute with 50 mL of water, and heat on a hot plate (~100 °C) until the toluene and methanol are
evaporated. Add 50 mL of bromine water, and heat for 15 min longer. Transfer the solution to a beaker, neutralize with
dilute hydrochloric acid (1:3), add an excess of 1 mL of the acid, and evaporate to about 50 mL. Filter if necessary, heat the
filtrate to boiling, add 5 mL of 12% barium chloride reagent solution, digest in a covered beaker on a hot plate (~100 °C) for
2 h, and allow to stand for at least 8 h. If a precipitate is formed, filter, wash thoroughly, and ignite. Correct for the weight
obtained in a complete blank test.

Water
[Part 2: Titrimetric Methods; Water by the Karl Fischer Method; Coulometric Procedure; Coulometric Procedure for Samples
Using Karl Fischer Reagent, Method 2]. Use 100 µL (87 mg) of the sample.

Ultraviolet Spectrophotometry
Use the procedure in [Part 2: Chromatography; Recommended Procedures; LC Suitability; Procedure for Absorbance] to
determine the absorbance.

DOI:10.1021/acsreagents.4409.20160601
© 2017 American Chemical Society C ACS Reagent Chemicals, Part 4