Benzene and Its Possible Structures

 

Aromatic Hydrocarbon

The term aromatic derived from Greek word aroma means fragrant. It was originally used in organic chemistry. They have least hydrogen to carbon ratio in their molecular formula. They have characteristics odour. Most of the organic compounds have six carbon rings in their molecule. Benzene is considered as the parent member of class of aromatic compound.

Benzene and those compound resembles the benzene in their chemical behavior are called Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

 


Structure of benzene

The Molecular formula of benzene C6H6 determined by the elemental analysis and molecular weight determination. The molecular formula of benzene is C6H6 . Benzene molecule is short of eight hydrogen as compared to a saturated hydrocarbon with same number of carbon atoms. It is considered to be highly unsaturated molecule. It must therefore have four double bonds, two triple bonds two double bond and one triple bond, a ring with three double bends or any other combination. Other structures with different positions of double and triple bond could be included.

The kekule’s Structure

In 1865, Kekule proposed a ring structure for benzene which is

 A  cyclic planar structure of six carbons having alternate double and single bonds. Each of the six carbons was attached to one hydrogen.



The Dewar Structure

Sir James Dewar suggested a structure of benzene which is given:

A hexagonal ring of six carbon atoms with two opposite atoms joined by a long single bond across the ring and with two double C-C bonds, one on each side of the hexagon.

Dewar structures contribute to the resonance hybrid of benzene.



Resonance Hybrid Structure:

Structure of benzene is a resonance hybrid of the two canonical structures.

 In quantum mechanical terms, the blending effect of resonance in the Lewis approach to bonding is the superposition of wave functions for each contributing canonical structure.

 


 

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