D12.3 Aromatic Molecules
Benzene, C6H6, is representative of a large number of aromatic compounds. These compounds contain ring structures and exhibit bonding that must be described using resonance structures. The resonance structures for benzene are:
All six carbon-carbon bonds are equivalent and exhibit bond lengths that are intermediate between those of a C–C single bond and a C=C double bond.
The chemical reactivity of aromatic compounds differs from the reactivity of alkenes. For example, aromatic compounds do not undergo addition reactions. Instead, with the aid of a catalyst, they can undergo substitution reactions where one of the hydrogen atoms is replaced by a substituent: another atom or group of atoms. A substitution reaction leaves the delocalized double bonds intact.
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