The benzene formula is written as C6H6. The spelling of "benzene" is pronounced as /ˈbɛnziːn/. The IPA transcription of this word includes the symbol /b/ for the initial consonant sound, followed by /ɛ/ for the short "e" vowel sound, then /n/ for the "n" consonant sound. The final syllable is pronounced with the long "e" vowel sound /iː/ and the "n" consonant sound again. The proper spelling of benzene is important for anyone studying organic chemistry.
The benzene formula refers to the molecular formula of benzene, a colorless, volatile liquid hydrocarbon compound. Benzene is composed of six carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal ring, with a hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom. Its chemical formula is C6H6. This formula represents the simplest form of the benzene molecule, where each carbon atom participates in a single bond with its adjacent carbon atoms and a hydrogen atom.
The benzene formula is widely recognized for its unique and stable structure, known as the aromatic ring. The cyclic arrangement of carbon atoms in benzene renders it highly stable and resistant to reactions that involve breaking its carbon-carbon bonds. Benzene is classified as an aromatic compound due to its extraordinary stability resulting from the delocalization of electron density within its ring system.
The benzene formula is often represented with a hexagon, where each vertex of the hexagon represents a carbon atom, and a hydrogen atom is bonded to each carbon in the ring structure. Chemists and scientists use this molecular formula to identify and understand the structure and properties of benzene. This formula is essential in explaining benzene's unique reactivity, resonance, electron delocalization, and its role as a precursor in synthesis reactions for a wide range of organic compounds.
The term "benzene formula" does not have a distinct etymology as it simply refers to the chemical formula for benzene, which is C6H6. However, the word "benzene" itself has an interesting etymology. It is derived from the German word "benzin", which was originally used to describe a volatile liquid made from coal tar. The German chemist and pharmacist Friedrich August Kekulé is credited with discovering the structure of benzene in 1865 and later coined the term "benzin" to refer specifically to the compound. Over time, the spelling changed from "benzin" to "benzene" when it entered the English language.