What evidence is there for delocalisation in benzene?

X-ray diffraction shows all carbon-carbon bonds in benzene are the same length (140 pm), between the lengths of a single (147 pm) and double bond (135 pm). This suggests that Kekule's alternating single and double bond model cannot be right as the bonds in the molecule are all the same.
Further evidence for the delocalisation model comes from enthalpy change data. The enthalpy of hydrogenation for cyclohexene, containing one double bond, is -120 kJmol^-1. If Kekule's model was right then we would expect the enthalpy of hydrogenation for benzene to be three times this, -360 kJmol^-1. However, the actual enthalpy of hydrogenation for benzene is -208 kJmol^-1, far less than expected. This lower enthalpy value is due to the delocalised ring of electrons in which electron density is spread over more atoms, lowering the energy of the molecule making it more stable.

WB
Answered by William B. Chemistry tutor

12406 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

A buffer solution was formed by mixing 20.0 cm^3 of sodium hydroxide solution of concentration 0.100 mol dm^–3 with 25.0 cm^3 of ethanoic acid of concentration 0.150 mol dm^–3. CH3COOH + NaOH---CH3COONa + H2O Calculate the pH of this buffer solution.


Predict the number of peaks in a carbon-13 NMR spectrum of the following carbonyl isomers of C5H8O. (i) CH3CH2CH2CH2CHO (ii) (CH3)3CCHO (iii) CH3COCH(CH3)2


A student reacts 50.0cm^3 of 2.00mol dm^-3 HCl with 25.0cm^3 NaOH. What is the concentration of NaOH?


Explain what happens to the boiling and solubility of alcohols as their chain length increases


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning