BRAINCAKEBenzene
Benzene has the molecular formula C6H6. Its six carbon atoms form a flat (planar) hexagonal ring, with one hydrogen atom bonded to each carbon. Compounds that contain a benzene ring are called arenes or aromatic compounds; compounds without one are called aliphatic.
Shape: each carbon is bonded to two carbons and one hydrogen, so the three bonding regions around each carbon are arranged in a trigonal planar shape with bond angles of 120°. All six carbon-carbon bonds are the same length.
Benzene is usually drawn as a hexagon with a circle inside it. The circle represents a ring of delocalised electrons; the next lessons compare this with the older Kekulé structure.
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More in Arenes
- The Kekulé Model
- The Delocalised Model of Benzene
- Evidence for Delocalisation
- Combustion of Benzene
- Electrophilic Substitution
- Bromination of Benzene
- Nitration of Benzene
- Friedel-Crafts Alkylation
All 13 lessons in Arenes · All Edexcel A-level Chemistry topics