1. A colorless crystalline organic compound used in the manufacture of dyes and as a reagent in chemical analysis; now largely restricted due to carcinogenic properties.
Usage: chemistry; industrial; health hazard: known carcinogen

Examples

• Benzidine was historically used to produce azo dyes for textiles.
• The laboratory technician handled benzidine with extreme caution due to its toxic nature.
• Benzidine-based tests were once common in clinical chemistry but have been largely phased out.
• Exposure to benzidine in manufacturing plants has been linked to bladder cancer.
• Modern regulations severely restrict the production and use of benzidine worldwide.