Benzene is the simplest member of a whole class of compounds called aromatic hydrocarbons....

Benzene is the simplest member of a whole class of compounds called aromatic hydrocarbons.

a.         How is each carbon atom hybridized?

b.         What is the geometry around each carbon atom? What is the overall geometry of the benzene ring?

c.         Draw a diagram showing the orbitals used to join the carbon atoms of the ring.

d.         Follow the indicated curved arrow notation to draw a second resonance structure.

e. Benzene and other aromatic hydrocarbons are shown in Chapter 17 to be very stable. Offer an explanation.