12th Grade

BENZENE AND ITS

COMPOUNDS :
CHAPTER 25
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
v Interpret, name and use the general, structural, displayed and skeletal formulae of benzene and simple
aryl compounds
v Describe and explain the shape of and bond angles in benzene molecules in terms of o and π bonds
v Describe the reactions of arenes, such as benzene and methylbenzene, in:
– substitution reactions with chlorine and with bromine
– nitration
– Friedel–Crafts alkylation and acylation
– complete oxidation of the side-chain to give a benzoic acid
– hydrogenation of the benzene ring to form a cyclohexane ring
v Describe the mechanism of electrophilic substitution in arenes and the effect of the delocalisation of
electrons in such reactions
v Interpret the difference in reactivity between benzene and chlorobenzene
v Predict whether halogenation will occur in the side chain or in the benzene ring in arenes depending on
reaction conditions
v Apply knowledge relating to position of substitution in the electrophilic substitution of arenes
Do you know about
this medicine?

Asetominofen (parasetamol)
Vanillin Orchid
INTRODUCTION

In the English language

Aromatic having an agreeable, sweet or spicy odour

Chemistry
used to describe chemical compounds contain
-ing a particular structure of six carbon atoms
arranged in a ring – the benzene ring.
BENZENE, A COLORLESS LIQUID, was first isolated by Michael Faraday in 1825.

Organic hydrocarbons containing one or more benzene rings are called arenes. In general,
compounds of benzene are known as aryl compounds or aromatic compounds.

C6H6
Kekule’s Structure
The first structure for benzene, proposed by August Kekulé in 1872, consisted of a
six membered ring with alternating single and double bonds and with one hydrogen
bonded to each carbon.
 01
Chemists found out that the
benzene perfectly symmetrical
molecule

02 03

Kekulé’s structure would suggest three The bond length of the carbon–
shorter double C = C bonds and three carbon bonds in benzene lie
longer single C - C bonds in the ring. between the values for C - C single
bonds and C = C double bonds
Aromaticity
The orbital overlap model of benzene