Question

What are aromatic hydrocarbons also known as?

Answer 1

Hydrocarbons

• The name 'hydrocarbon' is self-explanatory, referring to compounds of carbon and hydrogen only.
• They are divided into two types: aliphatic hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Aromatic hydrocarbons

• These hydrocarbons are also referred to as ‘arenes’ because the majority of them have a pleasant odor.
• The majority of these compounds were discovered to have a benzene ring.
• The benzene ring is extremely unsaturated, however, in the majority of aromatic compound reactions, the unsaturation of the benzene ring is retained.
• Aromatic hydrocarbons which lack a benzene ring contain additional highly unsaturated rings.
• Aromatic compounds with a benzene ring are known as benzenoids, while those without a benzene ring are known as non-benzenoids.

Examples of aromatic hydrocarbons

Examples of aromatic hydrocarbons are benzene$\left({\mathrm{C}}_6{\mathrm{H}}_6\right)$, napthalene$\left({\mathrm{C}}_{10}{\mathrm{H}}_8\right)$, toluene$\left({\mathrm{C}}_7{\mathrm{H}}_8\right)$.

Structures of benzene, naphthalene, and toluene are as follows:-