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Furan
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<p>Furan is a <a href="/facts/Heterocyclic_compound/8oYSjJxY">heterocyclic</a> <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic compound</a>, consisting of a five-membered <a href="/facts/Aromatic/wK0DzRY6">aromatic</a> <a href="/facts/Ring_(chemistry)/EVFmy88Q">ring</a> with four <a href="/facts/Carbon/ukrgQexo">carbon</a> <a href="/facts/Atom/FoQ4kGN5">atoms</a> and one <a href="/facts/Oxygen/acyn6o8r">oxygen</a> atom. Chemical compounds containing such rings are also referred to as furans. </p><p>Furan is a colorless, <a href="/facts/Flammable/1QexTQ4T">flammable</a>, highly <a href="/facts/Volatility_(chemistry)/90r3ep6w">volatile</a> liquid with a <a href="/facts/Boiling_point/E2BK9QoS">boiling point</a> close to room temperature. It is soluble in common organic <a href="/facts/Solvent/LoMPMz8S">solvents</a>, including <a href="/facts/Ethanol/3lCLfBSP">alcohol</a>, <a href="/facts/Diethyl_ether/Ep20vEdj">ether</a>, and <a href="/facts/Acetone/cVyJxKqw">acetone</a>, and is slightly soluble in <a href="/facts/Water/0lkXnJPK">water</a>. Its odor is "strong, ethereal; <a href="/facts/Chloroform/gvzuJMXa">chloroform</a>-like". It is <a href="/facts/Toxic/qa96rs60">toxic</a> and may be <a href="/facts/Carcinogenic/soH8Y9CE">carcinogenic</a> in humans. Furan is used as a starting point for other <a href="/facts/Speciality_chemicals/t1EBkh0W">speciality chemicals</a>. </p>