nitrobenzene Chem.
(naɪtrəʊˈbɛnziːn)
[nitro- b.]
A poisonous yellowish liquid, smelling like oil of bitter almonds, which is used in the preparation of aniline. Also attrib.
| 1868 Fownes' Chem. (ed. 10) 572 Benzene dissolves readily in strong nitric acid, and on adding water to the solution, nitrobenzene..separates out. 1891 Thorpe Dict. Appl. Chem. II. 701 Nitrobenzene was first prepared by Mitscherlich in 1834 by the action of strong nitric acid upon benzene, and was termed by him ‘nitrobenzide’. 1897 Allbutt's Syst. Med. II. 956 It was maintained that in complete combustion of the explosive no trace of nitro-benzene derivatives are [sic] left. |