The building blocks of English

Affixes

benz(o)-

Benzene.

The first part of English benzoic plus ‑o‑, from gum benzoin, based on Arabic lubānjāwī, incense of Java.

This indicates compounds that contain a six-membered ring of carbon atoms, a derivative of benzene. Examples include benzaldehyde, a colourless liquid aldehyde smelling of bitter almonds, used to make dyes and perfumes; benzodiazepine, a member of a group of tranquillizers, such as Librium or Valium; benzopyrene, the major carcinogen present in cigarette smoke; and benzoquinone, a yellow crystalline compound.