An aromatic compound consists of two benzene rings joined together.
Which of the following could be its formula?
- {C_{10}H_8}
- {C_{10}H_{10}}
- {C_{10}H_{12}}
- {C_{12}H_{10}}
- {C_{12}H_{12}}
A. 1 and 4
B. 2 and 4
C. 3 and 4
D. 2 and 5
E. 3 and 5
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The first possibility when two benzene rings join is that they share a side, connecting to each other with a pair of carbons.
This forms what is actually called Naphthalene, the simplest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. Meaning option 1 must be correct and the only answer possible is A.
For the sake of chemistry, we could also explore different possibilities!
Option 4 is the organic compound Biphenyl. Biphenyl forms when the two benzene rings attach to each other by a double carbon bond. It ends up looking like so:
Options 2, 3 and 5 are simply not possible and therefore incorrect.
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