I keep getting “Aromaticity” questions wrong in Hydrocarbons. What's the trap?
expecting benzene to undergo addition like an alkene.
The usual trap: expecting benzene to undergo addition like an alkene. How to avoid it: benzene prefers substitution because addition would destroy its aromatic stability. Go back to the definition — extra stability of planar, cyclic, fully-conjugated rings with (4n+2) pi electrons (benzene).
Key point
Aromaticity
Common mistake
expecting benzene to undergo addition like an alkene.
Memory tip
benzene prefers substitution because addition would destroy its aromatic stability.
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