Benzene

Benzene is the simplest aromatic compound, and it is the first member of the arene homologous series of compounds. Benzene consists of a chain of six carbon atoms in a ring structure, to which are attached six hydrogen atoms.

The bonding between the carbon atoms consist of alternating single and double bonds, which have two equivalent arrangements. These equivalent arrangements of bonds are called canonical forms and the overall nature of the bonding is a combination of all canonical form in a resonance hybrid. This bonding between the carbon atoms of benzene gives rise to the aromatic properties of benzene.

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