In the past, a chemist’s most important tool was his or her nose. Chemicals have been consumed by some daring chemists. After consuming an extremely dangerous chemical while working alone in his laboratory, Carl Scheele perished. Aromatic hydrocarbon examples, such as Arsenic compounds, were a favourite of Robert Bunsen, the designer of the Bunsen burner. Because of the smell, his tongue went black; his hands and feet were shaking. When carbon compounds have distinct aromas, the term aromatic has been employed. Toluene and benzene, two of the most common aromatic compounds, are noted for their pleasant aroma. It’s quite exact how aromatic hydrocarbons are categorized. Carbon and hydrogen make up the majority of aromatic compounds.
Properties of Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Benzene was the first aromatic hydrocarbon to be classified as such and is still the most abundant of aromatic hydrocarbons. Aryl hydrocarbons are the most challenging of the hydrocarbons to work with. There are two carbon-carbon bonds, one carbon-hydrogen bond, and a double bond with an adjacent carbon, in which the pi-electron is delocalized for each carbon in the benzene ring of carbon. There are also two carbon-hydrogen bonds in the benzene ring of carbon.
The delocalization of pi electrons, which can be found within the hexagon, is denoted by the presence of an inner circle. Benzene resonance structures can be used to explain the 1.5 bond order of all carbon-carbon bonds in this molecule. The 1.5 bond order of all carbon-carbon bonds in this molecule can be explained by the resonance structures of benzene.
Some of the most often observed characteristics of aromatic hydrocarbons are mentioned below, in no particular sequence, and are not exclusive to aromatic hydrocarbons.
The presence of aromatic compounds is characterized by the presence of a high concentration of carbon atoms in comparison to the presence of hydrogen atoms. When aromatic hydrocarbons are burned, it is possible to observe a brilliant and sooty yellow flame.
EXAMPLES
Many people know about aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene. This molecule is made up of six carbon molecules arranged in a ring with double bonds and hydrogen. Because the carbon atoms are uniformly spaced, the valence electrons can delocalize through the bonds. As a result of its toxicity, it is used to produce a wide range of chemicals, including detergent, dyes, and lacquers.
Reactions of Aromatic Hydrocarbons
The major reactants in organic reactions are usually those which are commonly found in organic chemistry. Here, you’ll find a list of possible reactions, along with a quick description of what each one is like.
- Aromatic Substitution Reactions
In these processes, it is possible to replace one or more hydrogen atoms on the aromatic hydrocarbon ring with another substituent group.
Substitution reactions involving aromatic compounds can be divided into three categories:
- Aromatic nucleophilic substitutions, a type of nucleophile substitution.
- Electrophilic aromatic substitution.
- Processes involving radical nucleophilic aromatic substitution.
In the case of salicylic acid, the electrophilic substitution that occurs during the nitration reaction is an example of an aromatic substitution reaction.
- Coupling Reactions
This type of reaction necessitates the employment of a metal catalyst to aid in the coupling of two radical fragments together. Aromatic compounds can form the following types of bonds during coupling reactions:
- The coupling processes of isles can result in the production of carbon-carbon bonds, resulting in the formation of compounds such as vinyl ARENES, alkyl ARENES, and other similar compounds.
- Carbon-oxygen bonds can be formed during these processes, resulting in the formation of aryloxy molecules.
- A compound such as aniline is generated as a result of coupling events, in which carbon-nitrogen bonds are created.
It is important to note that these compounds can be either monocyclic or polycyclic.
- Hydrogenation Reactions
Most hydrogenation methods using arenes result in saturated rings as a result of the hydrogenation process. This sort of reaction includes the reduction of 1-naphthol to several different decalin-ol isomers, which is an example of one such reaction.
The resorcinol hydrogenation reaction, which makes use of spongy nickel (also known as Raney nickel) and aqueous NaOH, is another example of this type of reaction that can be carried out. In this technique, an enolate is produced, which is subsequently alkylated (with methyl iodide) to yield 2-methoxy-1, 3-cyclohexanedione.
Uses of Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Aromatic hydrocarbons are commonly employed in a variety of activities, both biological and synthetic. Various applications for aromatic hydrocarbons can be found in a range of fields.
- Aromatic hydrocarbons are the building blocks of chlorophyll, the green pigment found in plants, and these hydrocarbons are essential to the process of food synthesis in both plants and the human body.
- Methylbenzene, an aromatic hydrocarbon, is utilized as a solvent in model glues and is also employed in the production of mothballs, among other things.
- Phenanthrene is an aryl hydrocarbon that is used in the manufacturing of medicines, dyes, and various explosives, among other things.
- Known as TNT in the explosives industry, trinitrotoluene (TNT) is an aromatic hydrocarbon with crucial properties.
- Aromatic hydrocarbons are widely employed in the plastics and petrochemical industries, among other applications.
Aromatic hydrocarbons have a variety of applications that are dictated by their characteristics. Aromatic hydrocarbons have a variety of applications, one of which is as a non-polar solvent for other molecules. In this way, aromatic hydrocarbons can be employed as additives in a variety of products including gasoline, paints, lacquers, and other products. It is also because of the low reactivity that they are used as a solvent. Toluene, for example, is an aromatic compound that is employed as a solvent in paint thinners and other similar products.
Conclusion
Benzene is an aromatic molecule that is utilized in the production of high-octane fuel as well as the creation of other chemicals such as insecticides, detergents, dyes, and other chemicals, among others. However, since the revelation of the carcinogenic nature of benzene in humans, its usage in gasoline has been restricted to only high-octane fuels and other high-octane products.