State and explain the evidence for the delocalisation of electrons in benzene (6 marks)

Benzene does not decolourise bromine water, showing it does not undergo electrophilic addition reactions as the delocalised pi structure is very stable. All of the carbon-carbon bond lengths are the same; the length is intermediate between those expected for carbon-carbon single bonds and carbon-carbon double bonds, showing the electrons are delocalised around the ring.Thermochemically benzene is more stable than the theoretical molecule of cyclohexa-1,3,5-triene due to the added aromatic stability produced by the delocalisation of electrons.

RA

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

What are the reagents used to oxidise an alcohol to a carboxylic acid.


Which molecule has the highest boiling point: methane, ammonia, water or hydrogen fluoride? Explain why.


Describe a simple way to distinguish between aqueous solutions of potassium nitrate (KNO3) and potassium sulfate (K2SO4) using one test tube reaction


Giving the electronic configurations for each element, predict the trend in 1st ionisation energies going across period 2 from Lithium to Neon.