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Structure of Benzene, consisting only of hydrogens and carbons, reveals it as a pure aromatic compound. Benzene, a naturally occurring simplest hydrocarbon, is a six-carbon ring with double bonds. The compound is represented with the formula C6H6. The colourless liquid is also manufactured on large scale in industries.
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Key Terms: Benzene, Hydrocarbons, Toxic substance, Petrochemicals, Aromatic compounds, Electrons, Carbon
Structure of Benzene
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Benzene is represented as C6H6 and it has 6 hydrogen atoms and 6 carbon atoms. The mass of the average benzene atom is 78.112. The structure is usually represented by a hexagon and there are three double bonds as well.
The carbon atoms in the structure of benzene can be represented through the corners bonded to other atoms. The structure has conjugated double bonds and the double bonds are separated through the single bond. Moreover, a circle at the centre of the structure represents the 6 pi electrons that the benzene structure has.
Structure of Benzene
Due to the chemical formula, the benzene structure is also regarded as a hydrocarbon, which is a compound which contains only hydrogen and carbon atoms. Apart from this, as per the formulas and the structure of benzene, it is regarded to be an aromatic hydrocarbon.
Also check: Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Health Effects of Benzene
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Some of the health effects that Benzene has on people are listed below:
- It is regarded to be a toxic substance and if its vapours inhaled then might cause irritation in the respiratory tract and may even have a bad effect on the eyes.
- If benzene in solvent form comes in contact with the skin, it can cause itching, dryness and damage to the skin.
- Evaluations through research show that employees who are exposed to benzene might have a higher risk of getting affected by Leukemia and Myeloma.
- Adding to the above, some other dangerous effects of benzene are anaemia, loss of plasma cells and acute tiredness.
Applications of Benzene
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The various applications of benzene are:
- It is used as a catalyst in various chemical reactions and also is one of the most used after-shave lotions due to the smell.
- Plant add-on benzene is one of the best substitutes for the decaffeination and production of rubber.
- It is used to manufacture other chemicals such as nitrobenzene.
- Benzene is also used in the production of textiles, lubricants, pesticides, rubber and even explosives.
Occurrence of Benzene
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The various sources of benzene are:
- Petrochemicals are termed as the best source of benzene.
- It is also present in volcanoes and forest fires.
- Some animals also have traces of benzene along with many plants.
- Countries like the United States and China produce it on large scale through coal and oil.
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Previous Year Questions
- Benzoic acid dissolved in benzene shows a molecular weight … [MU OET 2003]
- The correct order of reactivity towards the electrophilic substitution of the compounds aniline (I) ... [NEET 2003]
- The carbon-carbon bond length in Benzene is.. [KCET 2009]
- The attacking reagent in the nitration of benzene is… [JKCET 2019]
- How benzene is converted into n - propyl benzene… [UPSEE 2018]
- Some meta-directing substituents in aromatic substitution are given. Which…[NEET 2013]
- Cyclopentadienyl anion is… [TS EAMCET 2017]
- With respect to the conformers of ethane, which of the following… [NEET 2017]
- The correct order of acidity… [NEET 2017]
- Which of the following organic compounds has the same hybridisation… [Neet 2014]
- The reagent 'X' used for the following reaction… [KCET 2018]
- Electrophile that participates in nitration of… [KCET 2016]
Things to remember
- Benzene is an aromatic compound and it has 6 carbon rings.
- Benzene is also known as a hydrocarbon as it only contains carbon and hydrogen atoms.
- The formula for Benzene is C₆H₆.
- It is highly toxic and can lead to long-term diseases such as Cancer, Leukemia, Anemia and Myeloma.
- It is even used in various applications such as producing rubber, glue and shaving lotions. Also, it is a useful catalyst.
Also Read:
Sample Questions
Ques. Xylene and Toluene are the two compounds which have successfully replaced benzene in all modern applications. State why. (1 mark)
Ans. This is because Benzene is a toxic compound and therefore Xylene and toluene are used as substitutes for it.
Ques. Benzene is a highly toxic compound which can lead to long-term diseases such as Leukemia, and cancer. How harmful is benzene to the health of humans, state your answer with valid reasons. (2 marks)
Ans. Benzene is highly toxic, and if it comes in contact with humans it can lead to excessive bleeding and infection. The long-term effects however include diseases like Leukemia and a decrease in red blood cells. It can have serious effects on the health of the person.
Ques. Benzene is recognized in the year 1833, and since then it has been used in various applications. State some of the present-day and earlier applications of benzene and what you think about the usage of benzene today. (2 marks)
Ans. In the year 1834, a German Scientist recognized the compound when it was heated benzoic acid was heated with lime. In the present day, it has various applications from the production of rubber to the manufacturing of plastic, synthetic fibres and detergents. It is also used as a solvent, as a fuel and in auto repairs.
Ques. Benzene is one of the most common aromatic compounds that is encountered many times. How was it first discovered and who did it? Write a detailed note on it. (1 mark)
Ans. Benzene is one of the most used aromatic compounds and it is used in various applications. In the year 1834, a German Scientist recognized the compound when it was heated benzoic acid was heated with lime. Later in 1845, a German chemist isolated it from coal tar.
Ques. Long-term inhalation of the compound can lead to serious issues. Throw some light on it and even mention what are some of the harmful side effects of using it. Name some and give the details. (2 marks)
Ans. Benzene is highly toxic, and if comes in contact with humans, can lead to excessive bleeding and infection. The long-term effects include diseases such as Leukemia and a decrease in red blood cells. It can have serious effects on the health of the person.
Ques. How is benzene represented and reveals the structure of the compound? Why is a circle used inside the structure of the compound? (1 mark)
Ans. Benzene is represented by the formula C₆H₆. The benzene ring is the hydrocarbon chain. The circle that is in the centre represents the 6pi electrons of the benzene ring.
Ques. To be planar conjugated and aromatic the molecules have to obey what aspects? Also, draw a molecule which justifies the aromatic compound structure. (1 mark)
Ans. To be planar conjugated the molecules have to satisfy the 4n+2 rule. Benzene is an aromatic structure with 6 hydrogen and 6 carbon atoms.
Ques. Which compound is mostly used to produce polystyrene? Give details on it and its toxicity. (1 mark)
Ans. The polymer polystyrene is made using monomer styrene. Styrene involves ethylene and benzene reactions. Benzene is a highly toxic compound and so is styrene.
Ques. Why is benzene regarded to be a harmful compound? Give details on it. (1 mark)
Ans. Benzene is a highly toxic compound and thus it has harmful effects on the body. It can weaken the immune system and there are chances of getting infected.
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