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Textbook Solutions for Chemistry

Chapter 10 Problem 127P

Question

The stability of benzene is due to the fact that we can draw reasonable resonance structures for the molecule, which is equivalent to saying that there is electron delocalization. Resonance energy is a measure of how much more stable benzene is compared to the hypothetical molecule, which can be represented by just a single resonance structure. Shown on p. 466 are the enthalpies of hydrogenation (the addition of hydrogen) of cyclohexene \(\left(\mathrm{C}_6 \mathrm{H}_{10}\right)\) to cyclohexane \(\left(\mathrm{C}_6 \mathrm{H}_{12}\right)\) and benzene to cyclohexane.

(In these simplified structures, each point where lines meet represents a C atom. There is a H atom attached to a \(s p^2\)-hybridized C atom and there are two H atoms attached to a \(s p^3\)-hybridized C atom.) Estimate the resonance energy of benzene from these data.

Solution

Step 1 of 2

The stability of benzene is due to the fact that we can draw reasonable resonance structures for the molecule, which is equivalent to saying that there is electron delocalization.

Resonance energy is a measure of how much more stable benzene is compared to the hypothetical molecule, which can be represented by just a single resonance structure.

The enthalpies of hydrogenation (the addition of hydrogen) of cyclohexene  to cyclohexane  and benzene to cyclohexane are given as

We need to estimate the resonance energy of benzene from these data.

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full solution

Title Chemistry 11 
Author Raymond Chang
ISBN 9780073402680

Solved: The stability of benzene is due to the fact that

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