Which of the following statements is INCORRECT regarding the structure of benzene?
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A.
It has six carbon-hydrogen single bonds.
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B.
It has six carbon-carbon single bonds.
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C.
It has six carbon atoms in a ring, each bonded to one hydrogen atom.
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D.
It is an unsaturated cyclic hydrocarbon.
Correct Answer:
B. It has six carbon-carbon single bonds.
Explanation:
Benzene is a planar, hexagonal molecule with the formula C6H6, where each carbon atom is sp2 hybridized and bonded to one hydrogen atom. While historical models proposed alternating single and double bonds, experimental data such as X-ray diffraction shows that all carbon-carbon bonds in benzene are identical in length (approximately 1.39 Å). This length is intermediate between a standard single bond (1.54 Å) and a double bond (1.34 Å). The stability and uniform bond lengths of benzene arise from the delocalization of six pi electrons, which form a continuous electron cloud above and below the ring rather than being fixed in alternating positions. Therefore, any statement suggesting benzene contains distinct, alternating single and double bonds is incorrect.
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