Names | |
---|---|
Preferred IUPAC name
3-Methylphenol | |
Other names
3-Cresol
m-Cresol 3-Hydroxytoluene m-Cresylic acid 1-Hydroxy-3-methylbenzene 3-Methylbenzenol | |
Identifiers | |
3D model (
JSmol)
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|
506719 | |
ChEBI | |
ChEMBL | |
ChemSpider | |
DrugBank | |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.003.253 |
EC Number |
|
101411 | |
KEGG | |
PubChem
CID
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RTECS number |
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UNII | |
CompTox Dashboard (
EPA)
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Properties | |
C7H8O | |
Molar mass | 108.14 g/mol |
Appearance | colorless liquid to yellowish liquid |
Density | 1.034 g/cm3, liquid at 20 °C |
Melting point | 11 °C (52 °F; 284 K) |
Boiling point | 202.8 °C (397.0 °F; 475.9 K) |
2.35 g/100 ml at 20 °C 5.8 g/100 ml at 100 °C | |
Solubility in ethanol | miscible |
Solubility in diethyl ether | miscible |
Vapor pressure | 0.14 mmHg (20 °C) [1] |
−72.02×10−6 cm3/mol | |
Refractive index (nD)
|
1.5398 |
Viscosity | 6.1 cP at 40 °C |
Hazards | |
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
Main hazards
|
May cause serious burns. Very destructive of mucous membranes. Harmful if inhaled. Toxic in contact with the skin or if swallowed. |
GHS labelling: | |
Danger | |
H227, H301, H311, H314, H351, H370, H372, H373, H401 | |
P201, P202, P210, P260, P264, P270, P273, P280, P281, P301+P310, P301+P330+P331, P302+P352, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P307+P311, P308+P313, P310, P312, P314, P321, P322, P330, P361, P363, P370+P378, P403+P235, P405, P501 | |
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
Flash point | 86 °C |
Explosive limits | 1.1%–? (149 °C) [1] |
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
LD50 (
median dose)
|
242 mg/kg (oral, rat, 1969) 2020 mg/kg (oral, rat, 1944) 828 mg/kg (oral, mouse) [2] |
NIOSH (US health exposure limits): | |
PEL (Permissible)
|
TWA 5 ppm (22 mg/m3) [skin] [1] |
REL (Recommended)
|
TWA 2.3 ppm (10 mg/m3) [1] |
IDLH (Immediate danger)
|
250 ppm [1] |
Safety data sheet (SDS) | External MSDS |
Related compounds | |
Related
phenols
|
o-cresol, p-cresol, phenol |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their
standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
|
meta-Cresol, also 3-methylphenol, is an organic compound with the formula CH3C6H4(OH). It is a colourless, viscous liquid that is used as an intermediate in the production of other chemicals. It is a derivative of phenol and is an isomer of p-cresol and o-cresol. [3]
Together with many other compounds, m-cresol is traditionally extracted from coal tar, the volatile materials obtained in the production of coke from (bituminous) coal. This residue contains a few percent by weight of phenol and isomeric cresols. In the cymene–cresol process, toluene is alkylated with propylene to give isomers of cymene, which can be oxidatively dealkylated analogous to the cumene process. Another method, involves carbonylation of a mixture of methallyl chloride and acetylene in the presence of nickel carbonyl. [3]
m-Cresol is a precursor to numerous compounds. Important applications include:
m-Cresol is a component found in temporal glands secretions during musth in male African elephants (Loxodonta africana). [7]
m-Cresol is a constituent of tobacco smoke. [8]
m-Cresol is a component found in secretions from the ant Colobopsis saundersi during Autothysis. [9] [10]