JAMB - Chemistry (2018 - No. 69)
The derivative of benzene that can be used in making explosives is
aniline
xylene
phenol
toluene
Paliwanag
Yes, Toluene is used in making explosives, based on information from the textbook "New School Chemistry", pg 541.
Phenol is used as a starting material to makes explosive materials such as picric acid. Picric acid is one of the most acidic phenol. Like other strongly nitrated organic compounds, picric acid is an explosive. Toluene, however, is used to produce a stronger explosive material called TriNitroToluene (TNT).
Therefore Toluene is the most appropriate answer for this question but in situations where you don't find Toluene in the options provided, then Phenol makes a viable answer.