Benzene is one of the most important organic chemicals both in quantity consumed and variety of products in which it plays an essential part. While used directly as a solvent and gasoline additive, it finds its greatest use as a chemical raw material. The major derivatives are stryrene, phenol, nylon, aniline, synthetic detergents, chlorobenzenes, and nitrobenzene. These find ultimate outlet in every phase of industry; synthetic rubber, resins, plastics, medicinal, dyes, insecticides, textiles, detergents, explosives and others. Of comparable importance is ethyl alcohol. It ranks as one of the top chemicals in the organic field, entering either directly or indirectly into innumerable articles of commerce. It is indispensable in the manufacture of scores of products for national defense, such as smokeless powder, protective coatings, plastics, pharmaceuticals, and in supplementing petroleum as a source of butadiene for synthetic rubber manufacture. It has potential use as a fuel for internal combustion engines and has been shown to have value as a blending agent for raising the octane number of shale gasoline.