Aromatic Hydrocarbons

They have distinct pleasant aromas. Benzene is the simplest of an aromatic compound. An aromatic compound is an organic compound that contains a benzene ring or another ring in which the bonding is like that of benzene. In a benzene molecule, the bonding electrons between carbon atoms are shared evenly around the ring.

Structure of benzene:

Examples of benzenes:

                IUPAC Name: Methylbenzene

                Common Name: Toluene




     

                 IUPAC Name: 1,2-Dimethylbenzene

                 Common Name: Orto-xylene (O-xylene)

   


                  IUPAC Name: 1,3-Dimethylbenzene

                  Common Name: Meta-xylene (M-xylene)

IUPAC Name: 1,4-Dimethylbenzene

Common Name: Para-xylene (P-xylene)