Question

Benzene shows least addition reactions. Explain.​

Answer 1

Answer:

• Benzene is a planar molecule, in which each carbon atom is sp² hybridized with bond angle 120°.

• It has been proved by X-Ray data that, all the six C-C bond lengths are of the same order (140 pm) which is intermediate between C-C single bond (154 pm) and C = C double bond (133 pm).

• Hence, the bonds between carbon atoms are neither pure single nor double bonds, but are of hybrid type.

• Therefore due to absence of pure double bonds, benzene gets extra stability and shows reluctance for addition reactions under normal condition.

Answer 2

Answer:

In benzene, the π-electrons are delocalised and makes the structure more stable. Delocalization of π electron is called resonance. Thus, benzene does not give addition reactions because of resonance stabilisation.