Nitrobenzene
The foundational nitroaromatic building block supplied by Chelora Chemicals — the starting point for aniline manufacture and a wide range of chlorinated and dinitro intermediates — exported from Indonesia with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Nitrobenzene is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its central role as a nitroaromatic starting material, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Nitrobenzene is the simplest nitroaromatic compound: a benzene ring carrying a single nitro group. The nitro group is strongly electron-withdrawing by both induction and resonance, which deactivates the ring toward further electrophilic substitution and directs any additional substituent predominantly to the meta position — the defining reactivity pattern that makes nitrobenzene both a useful synthesis intermediate in its own right and a textbook example of how a strongly deactivating, meta-directing group controls aromatic substitution chemistry.
At room temperature it is a pale yellow to yellow/orange oily liquid with a characteristic odour often described as similar to bitter almonds or shoe polish (nitrobenzene was historically used in small amounts as a fragrance component for exactly that reason, a use now discontinued on safety grounds). It is only slightly soluble in water but miscible with most organic solvents.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
By far the largest use of nitrobenzene, worldwide, is as the starting material for aniline, made by catalytic hydrogenation of the nitro group; aniline is in turn the key building block for methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), the backbone of the polyurethane industry. Beyond aniline manufacture, nitrobenzene is also nitrated further to dinitrobenzenes and chlorinated under the nitro group's meta-directing influence to access meta-substituted chloronitrobenzenes — both represented elsewhere in our range.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Nitrobenzene in technical grade (≈99% assay) for standard industrial synthesis, and high-purity grade (99.5%+) for applications sensitive to isomeric nitrotoluene or dinitrobenzene carryover. Both grades are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis so your incoming QC team can verify the parameters you ordered against.
How Nitrobenzene is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Nitrobenzene is manufactured by the direct nitration of benzene with a mixture of concentrated nitric and sulfuric acids (the sulfuric acid acts as a catalyst and dehydrating agent, generating the nitronium ion electrophile and driving the equilibrium toward product by removing water). The reaction is run under carefully controlled, moderate temperature, since it is strongly exothermic and excessive heat promotes over-nitration to dinitrobenzene and oxidative by-products.
After nitration, the crude nitrobenzene is separated from the spent acid phase, washed to remove residual acid, and distilled to remove unreacted benzene and dinitrobenzene by-products before packing. This distillation cut is where technical grade and high-purity grade material part ways.
Why nitrobenzene is a foundation chemical, not a niche one
Because the great majority of nitrobenzene produced worldwide is consumed captively by integrated aniline/MDI producers, merchant nitrobenzene for independent buyers — for use as a nitration or chlorination substrate, a solvent in certain oxidation reactions, or a specialty synthesis intermediate — is a comparatively smaller but steady market, which is the segment Chelora Chemicals serves.
Industries and processes that use it
Nitrobenzene is consumed overwhelmingly as a synthesis intermediate, with smaller specialty volumes elsewhere. The fields below account for most of the global demand we see through our export desk.
Aniline & Polyurethane Chain
The principal use worldwide: catalytic hydrogenation to aniline, which is further converted to MDI, the key building block of the polyurethane industry.
Nitration & Chlorination Substrate
Further nitrated to dinitrobenzenes, or chlorinated under the nitro group's meta-directing influence to access meta-substituted chloronitrobenzene intermediates.
Pharmaceutical & Fine-Chemical Synthesis
Used as a reagent and reaction solvent in certain pharmaceutical and fine-chemical oxidation and condensation chemistry.
Rubber & Polymer Chemical Intermediates
A precursor, via its reduction and further derivatization chemistry, to several rubber-chemical and polymer-additive intermediates.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The nitro group is both the reactive handle (for reduction) and a powerful director for any further ring substitution. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Nitrobenzene is converted into a finished intermediate downstream.
Reduction to Aniline
Catalytic hydrogenation (or, historically, iron/acid Béchamp reduction) converts the nitro group to a primary amine, giving aniline — the single largest downstream use of nitrobenzene worldwide.
Nitration to Dinitrobenzene
A second nitration, directed meta to the first nitro group by its strong electron withdrawal, gives predominantly 1,3-dinitrobenzene, itself a precursor to further nitroaromatic chemistry.
Chlorination (Meta-Directed)
Electrophilic chlorination under Lewis-acid catalysis is directed meta to the nitro group, giving meta-chloronitrobenzene as the major product — the standard industrial route to that particular isomer, distinct from the ortho/para mixture obtained by nitrating chlorobenzene.
Sulfonation
Reaction with fuming sulfuric acid gives meta-nitrobenzenesulfonic acid, used in some dye and specialty-chemical synthesis routes.
Nitrobenzene against other nitroaromatic building blocks we supply
Buyers sourcing nitrobenzene often need one of its direct downstream nitroaromatics for a neighbouring step in the same process. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrobenzene | 98-95-3 | Mono-nitro aromatic | The product on this page — the foundation nitroaromatic building block in our range. |
| Meta Dinitrobenzene | 99-65-0 | Di-nitro aromatic | Made by further nitration of nitrobenzene — see its product page. |
| Ortho Nitrochlorobenzene | 88-73-3 | Mono-chloro mono-nitro aromatic | Made from chlorobenzene nitration (ortho/para mixture) — see its product page. |
| Meta Nitrochlorobenzene | 121-73-3 | Mono-chloro mono-nitro aromatic | Made from nitrobenzene chlorination (meta-directed) — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Nitrobenzene.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Toxic if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled.
Causes damage to organs.
Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
Suspected of causing cancer.
May damage fertility.
May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Harmful to aquatic life, with long-lasting effects.
Danger — GHS06 toxic and GHS08 health hazard pictograms apply.
This is a severe, multi-organ systemic toxicant that is also readily absorbed through intact skin; use impervious gloves, full eye/face protection and respiratory protection sized to the task, and avoid any skin contact. Methaemoglobinaemia is a recognised acute effect of overexposure — anyone showing signs of cyanosis, headache or dizziness after exposure needs prompt medical attention. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight and ignition sources, in tightly closed original packaging, segregated from strong oxidizing and reducing materials. Nitrobenzene freezes just below typical cool-storage temperatures (around 5–6 °C); warm gently and mix before sampling if a container has partially solidified. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay and colour before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Nitrobenzene leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by GC), colour, water content and freezing point, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Nitrobenzene used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Nitrobenzene?+
03What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
04Is Nitrobenzene hazardous?+
05Why does meta-chloronitrobenzene come from nitrobenzene rather than chlorobenzene?+
06What packing options are available?+
07How long does delivery take?+
08Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
09Do you supply other nitroaromatic building blocks?+
10How is Nitrobenzene manufactured?+
Need Nitrobenzene on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.