Chapter 25 - Aromatic Chemistry Flashcards
What is the formula of benzene?
C6H6
Define aromatic compound
an organic substance that contains a benzene ring
List 3 things benzene rings can be found in
pharmaceuticals, dyes and explosives
What is a -Cl attachment called in an aromatic compound?
chloro
What is a -Br attachment called in an aromatic compound?
bromo
What is a -CH3 attachment called in an aromatic compound?
methyl
What is a -NO2 attachment called in an aromatic compound?
nitro
What are numbers used to give the lowest possible combination of numbers called?
Locant numbers
Define locant numbers
numbers used to give the lowest possible combination of numbers
What is a benzene group present in a molecule named as? What is this similar to?
Phenyl group
Methyl group for CH3
Who suggested the first structure of benzene?
Kekulé
What were the main 2 principles of his structure?
That there were 2 forms of benzene and that the position of the double bonds constantly alternated from one to the other
What is more reactive?
c=c or c-c
c=c because the pi bond is easier to break than the sigma bond
Based on the length of C bonds, explain why Kekulés structure must be incorrect
If there were both C=C and C-C the bonds would have different lengths, but in Benzene each bond is the same length, suggesting there are no C=C
Based on reaction types explain why Kekulés structure must be incorrect
Kekulés structure makes benzene look like cyclic ALKENE so we would expect it to undergo addition reactions to break the double bonds, however benzene undergoes substitution reactions which suggests there are no C=C bonds present
Based on energy profiles explain why Kekulés structure must be incorrect
Kekulés model suggests that the total enthalpy change of benzene should be the addition of the hydrogenation of each C=C bond, totalling -360kJmol-1, however experimentally it is actually around -200kJmol-1 suggesting that the suggested structure of benzene is not correct
State 3 reasons why Kekulé’s structure of benzene is incorrect
- The type of reactions benzene undergoes is not equivalent to the model
- The bond lengths of benzene is not equivalent to the model
- The enthalpy change of hydrogenation is not equivalent to the one suggested by the model.
State 10 key features of the delocalised model of benzene
- 6C and 6H atoms form a cyclic hydrocarbon (not alkene)
- These carbon atoms are arranged in a planar (which means flat) hexagonal ring
- The arrangement of atoms around each C atom is trigonal planar with bond angles of 120
- Each C atom has 4e-, 3 of which are bonded to 2C and 1H
- The 4th e- is located in a P- orbital which sticks up above and below the ring
- The P orbitals on each C atom overlap sideways with those on the 2 adjacent C atoms
- This forms a Pi cloud of electron density above and below the ring
- The pi cloud contains 6e-
- The density is spread out within the ring
- The electrons in the cloud are said to be delocalised
Which model of benzene is currently accepted to be accurate?
The delocalised model of benzene
Define delocalised
Not belonging to a specific atom
How many delocalised electrons are spread out within the pi cloud?
6e-
What shape does each C atom have in the delocalised model of benzene?
trigonal planar
What does each of the bonding electrons in a carbon atom bond to in the delocalised model of benzene?
- adjacent C atom
- adjacent C atom
- adjacent H atom
- not bonded - located in the p orbital above or below the c atom
What shape do the 6 C atoms have in the delocalised model of benzene?
Planar hexagonal ring
Is benzene more or less reactive than predicted by Kekulés model?
Less reactive -more stable