Benzene

A ring with a secret

An interactive lesson with 5 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Benzene: six equal bonds, π electrons spread round the ring.
• Aromatic stability ≈ 150 kJ/mol; benzene resists addition.
• Disubstituted benzenes: ortho (1,2), meta (1,3), para (1,4).

Steps

1. Kekulé’s dream
2. Extra stability
3. Three dichlorobenzenes
4. Why only one 1,2-isomer?
5. Rings everywhere