Cresol

Description

A yellowish oil with a phenolic odor that is a constituent of coal tar creosote. Cresol is used as a parasiticide and a Disinfectant (Lysol®). It is also used in photographic developers.

Synonyms and Related Terms

cresylic acid; cresylol; tricresol; methylphenol; hydroxymethylbenzene; 3-cresol; 3-m-hydroxytoluene; m-cresylic acid;1-hydroxy-3-methylbenzene; m-oxytoluene;

Chemical structure

Risks

• Irritating to skin, eyes and nose.
• Toxic by ingestion and inhalation.
• Hygroscopic.
• Light sensitive. Air sensitive.
• Corrosive.
• Flash point = 82 C ( 179.60 F)
• Fisher Scientific: SDS
• EPA lists cresol and cresylic acid as hazardous waste due to toxicity; concentrations over 10% must be disposed of appropriately

Physical and Chemical Properties

Soluble in water. Miscible in ethanol, benzene, ether, glycerol and alkalis.

Composition	CH3C6H4OH
CAS	1319-77-3
Density	1.03 g/ml
Molecular Weight	mol. wt.=108.14
Refractive Index	1.542 (m-cresol)
Boiling Point	195-205 C

Resources and Citations

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 251

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983

• CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, Robert Weast (ed.), CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, v. 61, 1980 Comment: ref. index=1.542 (m-cresol)