Styrene (chemical formula: C8H8) is an organic compound containing a benzene ring and a vinyl group in its structure.
It is a colorless and transparent liquid, flammable at room temperature, and widely used in the chemical industry. The electrons of the vinyl group in its structure are conjugated with the benzene ring. It is insoluble in water but soluble in most organic solvents such as ethanol and ether, serving as an important monomer for synthetic resins, ion exchange resins, and synthetic rubber. In 1839, the German chemist Eduard Simon first discovered styrene when he distilled and isolated the substance from natural resin.
In the field of chemical engineering, styrene is an extremely important monomer. It is widely used in the synthesis of resins—such as common polystyrene resin, which is heavily applied in manufacturing various plastic products, ranging from daily plastic tableware to casings of electronic products. In the synthesis of ion exchange resins, styrene is also a key raw material; ion exchange resins play an indispensable role in numerous industrial and daily scenarios such as water purification and drug purification. Additionally, styrene is an important monomer for synthetic rubber. On October 27, 2017, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) included styrene in the Group 2B carcinogens list in its preliminary sorted reference of carcinogens. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has classified styrene along with seven other chemical substances as substances that may cause cancer in humans.
