Use
Benzene is also known as benzol, benzole, coal tar naphtha, and phenyl hydride, benzene is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid made by passing coke gas through oil, which is then distilled to produce benzene and toluol. The benzene is separated from the toluol by fractional distillation. Benzene is soluble in alcohol, ether, chloroform, and glacial acetic acid, but it is insoluble in water. Benzene was used as a solvent for many photographic operations in the 19th century. In the collodion process, benzene was used to dissolve rubber to both subcoat and supercoat negatives. It was also used as a solvent for Canada balsam in the Cutting method of sealing ambrotypes and cementing lens elements. Benzene was also used as a solvent for wax, gums, resins, and amber and in particular for retouching varnishes applied to silver bromide gelatin negatives.