2902.60.00.00 - Ethylbenzene

This classification covers ethylbenzene, a specific aromatic hydrocarbon. Ethylbenzene is characterized by an ethyl group attached to a benzene ring. It is a colorless liquid with a distinct gasoline-like odor, commonly used as an intermediate in the production of styrene, which is then further processed into polystyrene plastics and synthetic rubber.

Distinguishing ethylbenzene from its sibling categories is crucial for accurate classification. Unlike benzene (2902.20.00.00), which is the fundamental aromatic ring, or toluene (2902.30.00.00), which has a methyl group attached, ethylbenzene possesses a two-carbon ethyl side chain. Similarly, it differs from xylenes (which group isomers like ortho-, meta-, and para-xylene), as xylenes have two methyl groups attached to the benzene ring, whereas ethylbenzene has one ethyl group. Styrene (2902.50.00.00), a direct derivative of ethylbenzene, is distinguished by the presence of a vinyl group.

As a leaf node within this section of the HTS, ethylbenzene (2902.60.00.00) represents a distinct, singular chemical entity. Classification at this level relies on the precise molecular structure and the absence of further functional groups that would warrant subdivision. Therefore, any product meeting the chemical definition and exhibiting the properties of ethylbenzene, without additional modifications or complex mixtures, will be classified under this code.