Benzene is one of the most important organic compounds with the chemical formula C6H6. Benzene is the parent compound of the various aromatic compound.
Benzene is the simplest organic, aromatic hydrocarbon. Benzene is one of the elementary petrochemicals and a natural constituent of crude oil. It has a gasoline-like odour and is a colourless liquid. Benzene is highly toxic and carcinogenic in nature. It is primarily used in the production of polystyrene.
Benzene is a naturally occurring substance produced by volcanoes and forest fires and present in many plants and animals, but benzene is also a major industrial chemical made from coal and oil. As a pure chemical, benzene is a clear, colourless liquid. In industry, benzene is used to make other chemicals as well as some types of plastics, detergents, and pesticides. It is also a component of gasoline.
Table of Contents
Discovery of Benzene
The word benzene derives historically from gum benzoin, sometimes called ‘Benjamin’. Gum benzoin was known as an aromatic resin. Michael Faraday, an English scientist first discovered Benzene in illuminating gas. The name benzene was given by German Chemist Mitscherich in 1833. The cyclic structure of benzene remained a mystery until 1865 when German professor August Kekule elucidated it when he dreamt of a snake biting its own tail.
However, Kekule did not discover the presence of interactions between the double bonds. American professor Linus Pauling proposed that benzene exhibited a hybrid structure composed of delocalized electrons. This was the refinement of Kekule’s discovery. Benzene has a somewhat pleasant, sweet smell, however it is carcinogenic.
Benzene Characteristics
Benzene was discovered in 1825 by the English physicist Michael Faraday and was made available in large quantities in 1842 after it was found to contain benzene. Large amounts of benzene are now extracted from petroleum.
Benzene is a colourless liquid with a characteristic odour of formula C6H6. Benzene is a closed ring of six carbon atoms linked by bonds that alternate between single and double bonds. Each carbon atom is bound by a single hydrogen atom. Benzene melts at a temperature of 5.5 ° C, boils at 80.1°C. Benzene and its derivatives are part of an essential chemical community known as aromatic compounds. Benzene is a precursor in the production of medicines, plastics, oil, synthetic rubber, and dyes.
As a result, the hydrogenation of benzene happens much more slowly than the hydrogenation of other organic compounds containing carbon-carbon double bonds, and benzene is much more difficult to oxidize than alkenes. Most of the reactions of benzene belong to a class called electrophilic aromatic substitution, which leaves the ring intact but replaces one of the hydrogens attached to it. These reactions are versatile and commonly used for the preparation of benzene derivatives.
Structure of Benzene
The structure of benzene has been of interest since its discovery. Benzene is a cyclic hydrocarbon (chemical formula: C6H6), i.e., each carbon atom in benzene is arranged in a six-membered ring and is bonded to only one hydrogen atom. According to molecular orbital theory, benzene ring involves the formation of three delocalized π – orbitals spanning all six carbon atoms, while the valence bond theory describes two stable resonance structures for the ring.
Properties of Benzene
The various properties of benzene are mentioned below:
Benzene is immiscible in water but soluble in organic solvents.
It is a colourless liquid and has an aromatic odour.
It has a density of 0.87g cm-3. It is lighter than water.
Benzene has a moderate boiling point and a high melting point. (Boiling point: 80.5°C, Melting point: 5.5°C)
Benzene shows resonance.
It is highly inflammable and burns with a sooty flame.
Resonance of Benzene
The oscillating double bonds in the benzene ring are explained with the help of resonance structures as per valence bond theory. All the carbon atoms in the benzene ring are sp2 hybridized. One of the two sp2 hybridized orbitals of one atom overlaps with the sp2 orbital of adjacent carbon atom forming six C-C sigma bonds. Other left sp2 hybridized orbitals combine with s orbital of hydrogen to form six C-H sigma bonds. Remaining unhybridized p orbitals of carbon atoms form π bonds with adjacent carbon atoms by lateral overlap.
This explains an equal possibility for the formation of C1 –C2, C3 – C4, C5 – C6 π bonds or C2 – C3, C4 – C5, C6-C1 π bonds. The hybrid structure is represented by inserting a circle in the ring as shown below in the figure. Hence, it explains the formation of two resonance structures proposed by Kekule.
Aromaticity of benzene
Benzene is an aromatic compound, as the C-C bonds formed in the ring are not exactly single or double, rather they are of intermediate length. Aromatic compounds are divided into two categories: benzenoids (one containing benzene ring) and non-benzenoids (those not containing benzene ring), provided they follow Huckel rule. According to Huckel rule, for a ring to be aromatic it should have the following property:
Planarity
Complete delocalization of the π electrons in the ring
Presence of (4n + 2) π electrons in the ring where n is an integer (n = 0, 1, 2, . . .)
Uses of Benzene
Benzene is used in various industrial processes such as in the manufacture of lubricants, plastics, rubbers, dyes, synthetic fibres, etc. However, it has non-industrial uses too which are limited due to the reason benzene is toxic and carcinogenic. The different uses of Benzene are mentioned below.
Benzene is used in the preparation of phenol. It is also used to prepare aniline used in dyes and in dodecylbenzene used for the detergents.
In early times, benzene was used in degreasing of metal.
It is used for manufacturing of nylon fibres.
The main use of benzene is that it is used in the manufacture of other chemicals such as ethylbenzene, cyclohexane, cumene, nitrobenzene, alkylbenzene, etc.
Health Effects of Benzene
Acute exposure to benzene produces toxic effects on the central nervous system; however, in order to evaluate the chronic effects, consideration must be given to the myelotoxic and possible chromosome damaging and leukemogenic effects of benzene. The time required for expression of chlorine benzene toxicity indicates a vast difference in individual sensitivity.
Most cases of severe benzene intoxication have been reported in workers exposed to rather high concentrations of benzene under somewhat unhygienic working conditions. It is probable that all cases reported as “Leukemia associated with benzene exposure” have resulted from exposure rather high concentrations of benzene and other chemicals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1
Who discovered the structure of benzene?
Q2
List any 3 food items that contain benzene
Pineapple Crush, Giant Light Cranberry Juice Cocktail, Aquacal Strawberry Flavored Water Beverage
Q3
What are the three important steps to produce benzene industrially?
The following three chemical processes contribute equally to the production of benzene at an industrial level:
Catalytic reforming
Toluene hydrodealkylation
Steam cracking
Q4
Briefly explain the shape of benzene
Benzene has a ring structure which consists of six carbon atoms that are bonded in a planar or flat hexagon ring.
Q5
Is C6H6 toxic to humans?
The Department of Health and Human Services has stated that C6H6 can cause cancer (a carcinogen).
Q6
Is benzene a solvent?
Benzene is a widely used solvent and occurs in gasoline, car emissions and cigarette smoke. Historically, high-level benzene contamination has been widespread and, because of its carcinogenic effects, benzene contamination has typically become a matter of considerable concern.
Q7
What happens if you smell benzene?
Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure of humans to benzene may cause drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, as well as eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation, and, at high levels, unconsciousness.
Q8
What is the most characteristic reaction of benzene?
Benzene and it’s derivatives is much more stable than expected. The extra stability means that benzene will less readily undergo addition reactions. The more loosely held electrons are open to attack by electrophiles. Hence, the characteristic reaction of benzene is electrophilic substitution reaction.
Neeraj Anand, Param Anand
Er. Neeraj K.Anand is a freelance mentor and writer who specializes in Engineering & Science subjects. Neeraj Anand received a B.Tech degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering from N.I.T Warangal & M.Tech Post Graduation from IETE, New Delhi. He has over 30 years of teaching experience and serves as the Head of Department of ANAND CLASSES. He concentrated all his energy and experiences in academics and subsequently grew up as one of the best mentors in the country for students aspiring for success in competitive examinations.
In parallel, he started a Technical Publication "ANAND TECHNICAL PUBLISHERS" in 2002 and Educational Newspaper "NATIONAL EDUCATION NEWS" in 2014 at Jalandhar. Now he is a Director of leading publication "ANAND TECHNICAL PUBLISHERS", "ANAND CLASSES" and "NATIONAL EDUCATION NEWS".
He has published more than hundred books in the field of Physics, Mathematics, Computers and Information Technology. Besides this he has written many books to help students prepare for IIT-JEE and AIPMT entrance exams. He is an executive member of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers. USA) and honorary member of many Indian scientific societies such as Institution of Electronics & Telecommunication Engineers, Aeronautical Society of India, Bioinformatics Institute of India, Institution of Engineers. He has got award from American Biographical Institute Board of International Research in the year 2005.
CBSE Class 11 Chemistry Syllabus is a vast which needs a clear understanding of the concepts and topics. Knowing CBSE Class 11 Chemistry syllabus helps students to understand the course structure of Chemistry.
Unit-wise CBSE Class 11 Syllabus for Chemistry
Below is a list of detailed information on each unit for Class 11 Students.
UNIT I – Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry
General Introduction: Importance and scope of Chemistry.
Nature of matter, laws of chemical combination, Dalton’s atomic theory: concept of elements, atoms and molecules.
Atomic and molecular masses, mole concept and molar mass, percentage composition, empirical and molecular formula, chemical reactions, stoichiometry and calculations based on stoichiometry.
UNIT II – Structure of Atom
Discovery of Electron, Proton and Neutron, atomic number, isotopes and isobars. Thomson’s model and its limitations. Rutherford’s model and its limitations, Bohr’s model and its limitations, concept of shells and subshells, dual nature of matter and light, de Broglie’s relationship, Heisenberg uncertainty principle, concept of orbitals, quantum numbers, shapes of s, p and d orbitals, rules for filling electrons in orbitals – Aufbau principle, Pauli’s exclusion principle and Hund’s rule, electronic configuration of atoms, stability of half-filled and completely filled orbitals.
UNIT III – Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties
Significance of classification, brief history of the development of periodic table, modern periodic law and the present form of periodic table, periodic trends in properties of elements -atomic radii, ionic radii, inert gas radii, Ionization enthalpy, electron gain enthalpy, electronegativity, valency. Nomenclature of elements with atomic number greater than 100.
UNIT IV – Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure
Valence electrons, ionic bond, covalent bond, bond parameters, Lewis structure, polar character of covalent bond, covalent character of ionic bond, valence bond theory, resonance, geometry of covalent molecules, VSEPR theory, concept of hybridization, involving s, p and d orbitals and shapes of some simple molecules, molecular orbital theory of homonuclear diatomic molecules(qualitative idea only), Hydrogen bond.
UNIT V – Chemical Thermodynamics
Concepts of System and types of systems, surroundings, work, heat, energy, extensive and intensive properties, state functions. First law of thermodynamics – internal energy and enthalpy, measurement of U and H, Hess’s law of constant heat summation, enthalpy of bond dissociation, combustion, formation, atomization, sublimation, phase transition, ionization, solution and dilution. Second law of Thermodynamics (brief introduction) Introduction of entropy as a state function, Gibb’s energy change for spontaneous and nonspontaneous processes. Third law of thermodynamics (brief introduction).
UNIT VI – Equilibrium
Equilibrium in physical and chemical processes, dynamic nature of equilibrium, law of mass action, equilibrium constant, factors affecting equilibrium – Le Chatelier’s principle, ionic equilibrium- ionization of acids and bases, strong and weak electrolytes, degree of ionization, ionization of poly basic acids, acid strength, concept of pH, hydrolysis of salts (elementary idea), buffer solution, Henderson Equation, solubility product, common ion effect (with illustrative examples).
UNIT VII – Redox Reactions
Concept of oxidation and reduction, redox reactions, oxidation number, balancing redox reactions, in terms of loss and gain of electrons and change in oxidation number, applications of redox reactions.
UNIT VIII – Organic Chemistry: Some basic Principles and Techniques
General introduction, classification and IUPAC nomenclature of organic compounds. Electronic displacements in a covalent bond: inductive effect, electromeric effect, resonance and hyper conjugation. Homolytic and heterolytic fission of a covalent bond: free radicals, carbocations, carbanions, electrophiles and nucleophiles, types of organic reactions.
UNIT IX – Hydrocarbons
Classification of Hydrocarbons Aliphatic Hydrocarbons: Alkanes – Nomenclature, isomerism, conformation (ethane only), physical properties, chemical reactions. Alkenes – Nomenclature, structure of double bond (ethene), geometrical isomerism, physical properties, methods of preparation, chemical reactions: addition of hydrogen, halogen, water, hydrogen halides (Markovnikov’s addition and peroxide effect), ozonolysis, oxidation, mechanism of electrophilic addition. Alkynes – Nomenclature, structure of triple bond (ethyne), physical properties, methods of preparation, chemical reactions: acidic character of alkynes, addition reaction of – hydrogen, halogens, hydrogen halides and water.
Aromatic Hydrocarbons:
Introduction, IUPAC nomenclature, benzene: resonance, aromaticity, chemical properties: mechanism of electrophilic substitution. Nitration, sulphonation, halogenation, Friedel Craft’s alkylation and acylation, directive influence of functional group in monosubstituted benzene. Carcinogenicity and toxicity.
To know the CBSE Syllabus for all the classes from 1 to 12, visit the Syllabus page of CBSE. Meanwhile, to get the Practical Syllabus of Class 11 Chemistry, read on to find out more about the syllabus and related information in this page.
CBSE Class 11 Chemistry Practical Syllabus with Marking Scheme
In Chemistry subject, practical also plays a vital role in improving their academic scores in the subject. The overall weightage of Chemistry practical mentioned in the CBSE Class 11 Chemistry syllabus is 30 marks. So, students must try their best to score well in practicals along with theory. It will help in increasing their overall academic score.
CBSE Class 11 Chemistry Practical Syllabus
The experiments will be conducted under the supervision of subject teacher. CBSE Chemistry Practicals is for 30 marks. This contribute to the overall practical marks for the subject.
The table below consists of evaluation scheme of practical exams.
Evaluation Scheme
Marks
Volumetric Analysis
08
Salt Analysis
08
Content Based Experiment
06
Project Work
04
Class record and viva
04
Total
30
CBSE Syllabus for Class 11 Chemistry Practical
Micro-chemical methods are available for several of the practical experiments. Wherever possible such techniques should be used.
A. Basic Laboratory Techniques 1. Cutting glass tube and glass rod 2. Bending a glass tube 3. Drawing out a glass jet 4. Boring a cork
B. Characterization and Purification of Chemical Substances 1. Determination of melting point of an organic compound. 2. Determination of boiling point of an organic compound. 3. Crystallization of impure sample of any one of the following: Alum, Copper Sulphate, Benzoic Acid.
C. Experiments based on pH
1. Any one of the following experiments:
Determination of pH of some solutions obtained from fruit juices, solution of known and varied concentrations of acids, bases and salts using pH paper or universal indicator.
Comparing the pH of solutions of strong and weak acids of same concentration.
Study the pH change in the titration of a strong base using universal indicator.
2. Study the pH change by common-ion in case of weak acids and weak bases.
D. Chemical Equilibrium One of the following experiments:
1. Study the shift in equilibrium between ferric ions and thiocyanate ions by increasing/decreasing the concentration of either of the ions. 2. Study the shift in equilibrium between [Co(H2O)6] 2+ and chloride ions by changing the concentration of either of the ions.
E. Quantitative Estimation i. Using a mechanical balance/electronic balance. ii. Preparation of standard solution of Oxalic acid. iii. Determination of strength of a given solution of Sodium hydroxide by titrating it against standard solution of Oxalic acid. iv. Preparation of standard solution of Sodium carbonate. v. Determination of strength of a given solution of hydrochloric acid by titrating it against standard Sodium Carbonatesolution.
F. Qualitative Analysis 1) Determination of one anion and one cation in a given salt Cations‐ Pb2+, Cu2+, As3+, Al3+, Fe3+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Co2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, Mg2+, NH4+ Anions – (CO3)2‐ , S2‐, NO2‐ , SO32‐, SO2‐ , NO ‐ , Cl‐ , Br‐, I‐, PO43‐ , C2O2‐ ,CH3COO‐ (Note: Insoluble salts excluded)
2) Detection of ‐ Nitrogen, Sulphur, Chlorine in organic compounds.
G) PROJECTS Scientific investigations involving laboratory testing and collecting information from other sources.
A few suggested projects are as follows:
Checking the bacterial contamination in drinking water by testing sulphide ion
Study of the methods of purification of water.
Testing the hardness, presence of Iron, Fluoride, Chloride, etc., depending upon the regional variation in drinking water and study of causes of presence of these ions above permissible limit (if any).
Investigation of the foaming capacity of different washing soaps and the effect of addition of Sodium carbonate on it.
Study the acidity of different samples of tea leaves.
Determination of the rate of evaporation of different liquids Study the effect of acids and bases on the tensile strength of fibres.
Study of acidity of fruit and vegetable juices.
Note: Any other investigatory project, which involves about 10 periods of work, can be chosen with theapproval of the teacher.
Practical Examination for Visually Impaired Students of Class 11
Below is a list of practicals for the visually impaired students.
A. List of apparatus for identification for assessment in practicals (All experiments) Beaker, tripod stand, wire gauze, glass rod, funnel, filter paper, Bunsen burner, test tube, test tube stand, dropper, test tube holder, ignition tube, china dish, tongs, standard flask, pipette, burette, conical flask, clamp stand, dropper, wash bottle • Odour detection in qualitative analysis • Procedure/Setup of the apparatus
B. List of Experiments A. Characterization and Purification of Chemical Substances 1. Crystallization of an impure sample of any one of the following: copper sulphate, benzoic acid B. Experiments based on pH 1. Determination of pH of some solutions obtained from fruit juices, solutions of known and varied concentrations of acids, bases and salts using pH paper 2. Comparing the pH of solutions of strong and weak acids of same concentration.
C. Chemical Equilibrium 1. Study the shift in equilibrium between ferric ions and thiocyanate ions by increasing/decreasing the concentration of eitherions. 2. Study the shift in equilibrium between [Co(H2O)6]2+ and chloride ions by changing the concentration of either of the ions.
D. Quantitative estimation 1. Preparation of standard solution of oxalic acid. 2. Determination of molarity of a given solution of sodium hydroxide by titrating it against standard solution of oxalic acid.
E. Qualitative Analysis 1. Determination of one anion and one cation in a given salt 2. Cations – NH+4 Anions – (CO3)2-, S2-, (SO3)2-, Cl-, CH3COO- (Note: insoluble salts excluded) 3. Detection of Nitrogen in the given organic compound. 4. Detection of Halogen in the given organic compound.
Note: The above practicals may be carried out in an experiential manner rather than recording observations.
We hope students must have found this information on CBSE Syllabus useful for their studying Chemistry. Learn Maths & Science in interactive and fun loving ways with ANAND CLASSES (A School Of Competitions) App/Tablet.
Frequently Asked Questions on CBSE Class 11 Chemistry Syllabus
Q1
How many units are in the CBSE Class 11 Chemistry Syllabus?
There are 9 units in the CBSE Class 11 Chemistry Syllabus. Students can access various study materials for the chapters mentioned in this article for free at ANAND CLASSES (A School Of Competitions).
Q2
What is the total marks for practicals examination as per the CBSE Class 11 Chemistry Syllabus?
The total marks for the practicals as per the CBSE Class 11 Chemistry Syllabus is 30. It includes volumetric analysis, content-based experiment, salt analysis, class record, project work and viva.
Q3
Which chapter carries more weightage as per the CBSE Syllabus for Class 11 Chemistry?
The organic chemistry chapter carries more weightage as per the CBSE Syllabus for Class 11 Chemistry.
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