Why is Kekule's benzene structure an inaccurate representation of the molecule?

Firstly all of benzene's bonds are the same length and therefore there cannot be both double bonds and single bonds in the molecule. Secondly the bond angles are all the same as well which would not be the case if Kekule's structure was correct. Thirdly the electrons are delocalised around the carbon ring, there are 6 delocalised electrons, one from each carbon in the ring. The structure of the benzene ring is more accurately represented by a hexagon with a circle in the centre as we mainly do now.

PM

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Explain why alkenes can have stereoisomers


24.5g of CH3CH2CH2Br was reacted with ammonia to form CH3CH2CH2NH2 at a 75.0% yield, calculate the mass of the product formed.


What does Le Chatelier's principle say happens to an equilibrium when temperature is changed or a catalyst is added?


Write equations and give the mechanism for the reaction of butanone with: 1) NaBH4 and 2) HCN