Module 6.1 - Aromatic Compounds, Carbonyls and Acids Flashcards
What is Benzene?
A naturally occurring aromatic compound, which is a very stable planar ring with delocalised electrons
What is a model?
A simplified version that allows us to make predictions and understand observations more easily
What homologous series does benzene belong to?
arenes
What is the molecular formula of benzene?
C6H6
What is the empirical formula of benzene?
CH
What state is benzene at room temperature?
liquid
What can benzene be used for?
Key ingredient added to gasoline as it increases the efficiency of a car engine
What is Kekulé’s model of benzene?
- benzene had alternating single and double bonds in the 6 carbon ring
- discovered when 1 group was added to benzene only 1 isomer was ever made, but when 2 groups added, there was always 3 structural isomers
What are the problems with Kekulé’s model of benzene?
- unlike alkenes, benzene is resistant to addition reactions
- enthalpy of hydrogenation of benzene shows its much more stable that was predicted
- all 6 C bonds are the same length
How does benzene’s resistance to reaction disproves Kekulé’s model?
- using his model, would expect Benzene to undergo similar reactions to alkenes
- ethene readily undergoes addition reactions but benzene tends to undergo substitution of a H atom rather than addition
- Kekulé tried to explain this by saying double + single bonds changed positions in a very fast equilibrium
How does benzene’s enthalpy of hydrogenation disproves Kekulé’s model?
- hydrogenation: addition of H to an unsaturated chemical
- using bond enthalpy data we can calculate enthalpy change for complete hydrogenation of cyclohexene + cyclo-1,3,5-hexatriene (Kekulé’s model)
- experimentally found to be -208kJmol^-1, 152kJmol^-1 more energetically stable than predicted
How do the bond lengths in benzene disprove Kekulé’s model?
- xray diffraction shows all 6 C bonds are 0.140nm, between length of a single bond (0.147nm) and a double bond (0.135nm)
- Kekulé’s model suggest 3 shorter C=C bonds and 3 longer C-C bonds
Describe the delocalised structure of benzene.
- has a delocalised electron structure that can support all 3 pieces of evidence that don’t support Kekulé’s
- each C atom donates 1 electron from its p orbital
- electrons combine to form a ring of delocalised electrons above + below plane of molecule
- electrons in rings said to be delocalised as are able to move freely within ring + don’t belong to a single atom
- unlike Kekulé’s model, all bonds in ring are identical (same length)
- delocalisation of benzene being about 152kJmol^-1 more than expected using Kekulé’s model. As so much energy need to disrupt this delocalisation, benzene is v stable + resistant to addition reactions
What is a substitution reaction?
Where a group/atom is exchanged for another group/atom in a chemical reaction
What is a benzene derivative?
A benzene ring that has undergone a substitution reaction