Introductory Chemistry (5th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 032191029X
ISBN 13: 978-0-32191-029-5

Chapter 18 - Organic Chemistry - Exercises - Problems - Page 687: 74

Answer

Experimentally it is seen that in Benzene, every C-C bond length is same & this bond length is greater than C=C bond length but shorter than C-C bond length. So, we can conclude that it is neither single nor a double bond. A partial double bond characteristics is present between every two Carbon atoms. This happens because of delocalization of $\pi$ electrons which is called resonance. So, not a single structure represents benzene molecule but combination of two structures i.e. a resonance hybrid which can be represented as below:

Work Step by Step

In Benzene, every C-C bond length is same & this bond length is greater than C=C bond length but shorter than C-C bond length. So, we can conclude that it is neither single nor a double bond. A partial double bond characteristics is present between every two Carbon atoms. This happens because of delocalization of $\pi$ electrons which is called resonance. So, not a single structure represents benzene molecule but combination of two structures i.e. a resonance hybrid which can be represented as below:
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