Describe benzene
A colourless, sweet smelling, highly flammable liquid
Where is benzene found ?
- Found in cigarette smoke
What is benzene classified as ?
A carcinogen
What is a carcinogen ?
Something that can cause cancer
What is benzene also classed as ?
An arene
What is the reactivity of benzene like ?
Even though it has three double bonds it is fairly unreactive
What does the reactivity of benzene disprove ?
It disproves the kekule structure of benzene
What did Kekule suggest the structure of benzene was ?
A six membered ring of carbon atoms joined by alternate single and double bonds
What are the three main evidences that disprove kekules structure ?
Explain the lack of reactivity of benzene
How can the length of bonds be measured in chemistry ?
Using the X - ray diffraction method
Explain the length of the C-C bonds in benzene
- This is in between the bond length of a single and double bond
Explain the hydrogenation enthalpies of benzene
According to Kekule what should the hydrogenation enthalpy of benzene be ?
-360 KJ/mol
What is the actual hydrogenation enthalpy of benzene and what does it mean ?
- This means that the actual structure is more stable than the kekule structure
What are the main features of the delocalised model of benzene ?
Define monosubstituted
A compound that has one substituent group
In an aromatic compound, what is the benzene ring ?
The parent chain
When the benzene ring is attached to a functional group or a carbon chain longer than 7, what is the benzene ring ?
It is the substituent group
What kind of reactions does benzene undergo ?
Electrophilic substitution
What typically reacts with benzene ?
- Positively charged
What type of reaction is the nitration of benzene ?
Electrophilic substitution
What are the conditions for the nitration of benzene ?
What does the nitration of benzene form ?
Nitrobenzene and water