Each carbon atom of benzene is located at the top of a regular hexagon. It is understood to have three of the four valences that carbon atoms use to connect to each other, while the fourth valence is bonded to a hydrogen atom.
According to modern theories of chemical bonding, three of the four electrons in the valence shell of the carbon atom are used directly to create covalent chemical bonds. While the remaining quarter is shared with the other 5 carbon atoms, realizing the so-called π (pi) cloud which houses the six electrons in its different orbitals.
Uses of Benzene
Some companies use benzene as a point of origin for the manufacture of different chemicals used in the creation of resins, plastics, synthetic fibers and nylon such as certain polymers and Kevlar. Benzene is also used to make certain types of lubricants, rubbers, detergents, dyes, pesticides, and drugs.
Forest fires and volcanoes are natural sources of benzene. This compound is also a naturally occurring component of gasoline and crude oil. Benzene can be found in cigarette smoke and in organic materials that have been burned. It can be made by fractional distillation of coal tar.
Benefits of Benzene
Benzene is an important chemical, therefore it reacts with other chemicals to create a wide variety of chemical substances, consumer goods and various materials. Benzene is used for the production of chemicals such as cumene, ethylbenzene and cyclohexane which react later and are used in the creation of various plastics and materials such as nylon and polystyrene.
There are different steps in the process that start with the benzene molecule and end with a consumer product or finished material. An example is that benzene is used to create ethylbenzene, which is then used to produce styrene and ultimately to obtain polystyrene. This polystyrene is a completely different final material in its chemical composition from benzene.
For materials or products available to the consumer in which benzene is used as an intermediate or major element, it normally reacts completely in a closed system with little or no benzene remaining in the product obtained for final consumption.
Benzene is also used to make certain types of:
- gums
- lubricants
- Detergents.
- Inks.
- explosives
- pesticides.
- Medications.
Benzene can be obtained naturally from crude oil. The latter is refined into gasoline through the use of pressure, heat, and chemicals in the refining process to break down the spectrum of petroleum-derived elements using crude oil.
The refining process generates the production of gasoline and many other petroleum-derived materials such as solvents, jet and diesel fuels, lubricating oils, etc. All of these items contain traces of benzene.
Electron configuration of benzene
Benzene is a colorless liquid, it has strong inflammation, its aroma is sweet, and its boiling point is quite high. It should be handled very carefully as it has carcinogenic characteristics.
The molecular formula of benzene is C6H6. It is usually represented by a regular hexagon next to an inscribed circle with which it is possible to observe the three double bonds that belong to benzene in a dissociated, delocalized and resonance-stabilized form. This means that they do not function like a normal double bond but alternate, giving the molecule special characteristics.
All carbon is sp2 hybridized in benzene. These hybrids will be used to create the carbon bonds and the hydrogen-carbon bonds. Each carbon also has an additional pz orbital perpendicular to the molecular plane with an innermost electron. This will be used to create π bonds.
