Benzene has the formula C6H6 and is classified as an aryl or aromatic organic compound because its chemistry is dominated by the ring of delocalised pi electrons that sits above and below the carbon skeleton.
The majority of commercial dyes, pesticides and pharmaceutical drug molecules contain a benzene functional group.
Understanding the structure of benzene
What is the evidence for the delocalised ring of electron model for benzene over the structure proposed by August Kekulé in 1865?
Electrophilic substitution reactions of benzene
Benzene undergoes electrophilic substitution reactions which preserve the stable aromatic ring rather than the electrophilic addition reactions of alkenes.
- bromination and chlorination reactions, role of a halogen carrier
- nitration and sulfonation reactions
- exam style Q&A
Friedel-Crafts reactions in benzene
Friedel-Crafts reactions allow us to add alkyl and acyl groups to benzene providing a way of adding carbon atoms to the ring and building side chains.
This is particularly useful in the synthesis of pharmaceutical drugs, detergents, dyes and other large aromatic molecules.
Explaining the reactivity of substituted benzenes
What happens when a substituted benzene such as chlorobenzene or methyl benzene undergoes an electrophilic substitution reaction?
There are two things to consider – is the benzene ring more or less reactive if it already has a side group and does a side group influence the position of the incoming electrophile?
Why are carrots orange?
The short answer is because they contain pigments which strongly absorb visible light in the blue-green part of the electromagnetic spectrum …