Benzene can be used to dehydrate tissue.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not recommended
• D. Ineffective

Answer: (B)

Dehydration in histology means removing water from tissue by replacing it with a solvent that can be infiltrated by paraffin, typically through graded alcohols. Benzene cannot serve this role because it does not mix with water and does not replace the tissue’s water content. Using benzene would leave water behind and prevent proper paraffin infiltration. Additionally, benzene is highly toxic and carcinogenic, so it is not used in modern protocols for dehydration or other steps; safer alcohols are used instead. (If mentioned, benzene has historically been used as a clearing agent rather than a dehydrant, but that does not accomplish dehydration.)