Why does benzene follow the delocalised model & not the Kekule' structure?
1- Bond Length: The bond length of a single bond is longer than a double bond,
however in benzene all the bond lengths are equal due to the delocalised electrons
distributed around the whole structure
2- Kekule suggested the benzene reacts in a similar way to alkenes but under
normal conditions benzene doesn't decolourise bromine water. Also benzene
undergoes substitution reactions and not addition
3- the enthalpy change of hydrogenation is more stable in benzene than alkenes
due to the delocalised electron ring distributed around the whole structure
Reactions of benzene:
PHENOL
Why does phenol react more readily than benzene?
1- In phenol electron density increases (oxygen)
2- The electrophile attacking Phenol becomes polarised (due to oxygen)
3- The delocalised electron ring also pulls the oxygen electrons into the
delocalised electron cloud
4- Phenols undergo substitution reactions easier due to the lone pair
on the oxygen
Reactions of phenols
uses of phenols:
Production of plastics,
antiseptics, disinfectants,
resins for paints & varnishes.
Carbonyl's
Aldehydes are prepared from the distillation (oxidation) of primary
alcohols using acidified potassium dichromate.
testing for Primary, secondary
and tertiary alcohols: using
acidified potassium
dichromate: the color change
should be from orange to
green