Chapter 19: Problem 14

Draw the two possible resonance structures for benzene.

Short Answer

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Two resonance structures were drawn to represent benzene; both consisted of six carbon atoms connected in a ring, with alternating single and double bonds, and six hydrogen atoms each attached to a carbon atom.

Step by step solution

Understand the Structure of Benzene

Familiarize with the structure of the benzene molecule. Each of the six carbon atoms in benzene is bonded to its neighboring carbon atoms and a hydrogen atom. The carbon-carbon bonds alternate between single and double bonds, giving the molecule its resonance structures.

Draw the First Resonance Structure

Draw a hexagon to represent the carbon atoms. Next, draw a circle in the center of the hexagon to represent the delocalized pi electrons. Lastly, place a 'H' on the vertices of the hexagon to represent the six hydrogen atoms each bonded to a carbon.

Draw the Second Resonance Structure

The second resonance structure is a mirror image of the first since benzene is symmetric. Start like in step 2 with a hexagon representing carbon atoms. Now, instead of a circle in the center, draw alternating single and double lines to join the vertices to represent alternating single and double carbon-carbon bonds. Lastly, add the 'H' as in step 2 to represent the hydrogen atoms. Note that the alternation of single and double bonds is different from the first structure.

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Draw the two possible resonance structures for benzene.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understand the Structure of Benzene

Draw the First Resonance Structure

Draw the Second Resonance Structure

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