Benzyl Alcohol Definition and Applications

What is the definition of benzyl alcohol?

Benzyl alcohol, also known as phenylmethanol, is a colorless liquid with an aromatic odor, with a molecular formula of C7H8O and CAS: 100-51-6. Benzyl alcohol is one of the simplest aromatic alcohols and can be regarded as methanol with a phenyl substitution. In nature, it mostly exists in the form of ester in essential oils, such as jasmine oil, hyacinth oil, and Peru balsam.

When oxidized or dehydrogenated, benzyl alcohol can produce benzaldehyde. It can be hydrogenated to produce toluene or methylcyclohexane. It can also react with carboxylic acids to form the corresponding esters. In the presence of zinc chloride, boron trifluoride, anhydrous boric acid, phosphoric acid, or sulfuric acid, it can condense into a resinous substance.

What are the applications of benzyl alcohol?

• Benzyl alcohol is used to prepare soap and daily cosmetic fragrances. It is a very useful fixative and an essential ingredient in the preparation of fragrances such as jasmine, tuberose, and ylang-ylang. It can be used to prepare soap or as a daily cosmetic fragrance. However, benzyl alcohol can slowly oxidize naturally and a part of it can be converted into benzaldehyde and benzyl ether, which can give a bitter almond odor to the commercial products, so it is not suitable for long-term storage.

• Benzyl alcohol is widely used in the production of industrial chemicals. It can be used as a solvent for coatings, paint thinners, stabilizers for polyvinyl chloride, and a solvent for synthetic resins, vitamin B injections, and antiseptics for ointments or solutions. It can also be used as a drying agent for nylon, fiber, and plastic films, dyes, cellulose esters, and casein. It is widely used in the manufacture of pens (ballpoint pen oil) and so on.
  

• Benzyl alcohol can also be used in edible flavors. It is also a fixative and a solvent for oils and fats. It can be used for flavoring, mainly for preparing berry and nut flavors. It is also used for the preparation of floral oils and medicines, as well as a solvent and fixative for fragrances. It is used as a solvent, plasticizer, and preservative, and is also used in the manufacture of fragrances, soaps, medicines, and dyes.
  

How to distinguish benzyl alcohol from ethanol by chemical methods?

Without using a chemical reaction, benzyl alcohol is viscous at room temperature, while ethanol is a dilute liquid. Just stir with a glass rod to tell the difference. Benzyl alcohol (molecular formula: C6H5CH2OH), also known as benzyl alcohol, is the simplest fatty alcohol containing a benzene ring, which can be regarded as a benzylic alcohol or a methanol with a phenyl substitution. It is a colorless, transparent, and viscous liquid with a weak aromatic odor, and is polar, low in toxicity, and has a low vapor pressure, and is therefore used as an alcohol solvent. It is flammable and slightly soluble in water (4g/100mL) and can be miscible with organic solvents such as ethanol, ether, benzene, and chloroform. The potassium permanganate acid method can be used to distinguish them. The reducing nature of benzyl alcohol is stronger than that of ethanol. When adding acidic potassium permanganate, it will immediately fade, while ethanol will fade much more slowly. This method can also be used to distinguish between them.