Would benzene be able to conduct electricity?

In summary, because of the delocalized bonding in graphite, it is able to conduct electricity while benzene, despite having a similar structure, is not able to conduct electricity due to the lack of delocalization between molecules. This is similar to the fact that in graphite, electrons can only conduct along a single plane, while in benzene they cannot hop from one molecule to another.
  • #1
kingdomof
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Because of the delocalized bonding in graphite, graphite is able to conduct electricity. I'd figure benzene, which has a similar structure, would be able to conduct electricity. Is this so?
 
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  • #2
I poked around a little and found a reference to hydrocarbons in general. They are very good insulators.
 
  • #3
kingdomof said:
Because of the delocalized bonding in graphite, graphite is able to conduct electricity. I'd figure benzene, which has a similar structure, would be able to conduct electricity. Is this so?
No, it is not.

In graphite, the [itex]\pi[/itex]-electrons are delocalized over the entire plane of C-atoms, while in a benzene molecule they are only delocalized within the molecule (ring). There is no mechanism in benzene to allow the electrons to hop from one molecule to another. This is similar to the fact that in-plane delocalization in graphite means you can conduct well only along a single plane but not from one plane to the next.
 
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1. Can benzene conduct electricity?

No, benzene is a nonpolar molecule and does not have free electrons to carry an electric current.

2. Why can't benzene conduct electricity?

Benzene is a symmetrical molecule with a delocalized pi electron system. This means that the electrons are evenly distributed throughout the molecule and are not available to carry an electric current.

3. Is benzene a conductor or an insulator?

Benzene is considered an insulator because it does not allow the flow of electric current.

4. Can benzene be made to conduct electricity?

Yes, benzene can be made to conduct electricity by adding impurities or by introducing functional groups that can donate or accept electrons, breaking the symmetry of the molecule.

5. What are some applications of conducting benzene?

Conducting benzene can be used in the production of organic semiconductors, which are used in electronic devices such as solar cells and transistors. It can also be used in the synthesis of other organic compounds for various industrial purposes.

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