Question

What are the chemical and physical properties of benzene?

Answer 1

Answer:

Explanation:

Physical and chemical properties of benzene:

Benzene belongs to the family of aromatic hydrocarbons which are nonpolar molecules and are usually colorless liquids or solids with a characteristic aroma.

Benzene being non-polar is immiscible with water but is readily miscible with organic solvents.

Upon combustion of benzene sooty flame is produced.

Chemical properties of benzene:

Electrophilic substitution reaction:

Nitration of Benzene: Benzene reacts with nitric acid at 323-333 K in the presence of sulphuric acid to form nitrobenzene. This reaction is known as nitration of Benzene.

Nitration of Benzene

Sulfonation of Benzene: Sulfonation of benzene is a process of heating benzene with fuming sulphuric acid (H2SO4 +SO3) to produce Benzene sulfonic acid. The reaction is reversible in nature.

Sulfonation of Benzene

Halogenation of Benzene: Benzene reacts with halogens in the presence of Lewis acids like FeCl3, FeBr3 to form aryl halides. This reaction is termed as halogenation of benzene.

Halogenation of Benzene

Friedel Craft’s alkylation reaction: When benzene is treated with an alkyl halide in the presence of a Lewis acid such as anhydrous aluminum chloride, alkyl benzene is formed. This reaction is popularly known as Friedel Craft’s alkylation reaction.

friedel crafts alkylation

Friedel Craft’s acylation reaction: When benzene is treated with an acyl halide in the presence of Lewis acid such as anhydrous aluminum chloride, acyl benzene is formed. This reaction is popularly known as Friedel Craft’s acylation reaction.

friedel craft's acylation

Addition reactions: Addition of chlorine in the presence of ultraviolet light produces benzene hexachloride better known as gammaxene.

physical and chemical properties of benzene

Combustion of benzene: Upon combustion of benzene, benzene burns with a sooty flame along with the evolution of CO2 gas.

C6H6 + O2 → CO2 + H2O