Does Bromobenzene Indicate Bromine on Every Carbon in the Benzene Ring?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the chemical structure of bromobenzene and its implications regarding the attachment of bromine atoms to the benzene ring. Participants explore the nomenclature and structural representation of bromobenzene, particularly in relation to other substituents like ethyl groups.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant asks if bromobenzene indicates that a bromine is bonded to every carbon in the benzene ring.
  • Another participant clarifies that bromobenzene refers to a bromine bonded to only one carbon, specifically 1-bromobenzene.
  • A participant questions whether bromobenzene is always inferred to mean 1-bromobenzene and seeks clarification on the positioning of bromine on the ring.
  • A later reply explains that the specific carbon to which bromine is attached does not affect the identity of the molecule due to the rotational symmetry of the benzene ring.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the interpretation of bromobenzene and its structural implications. There is no consensus on whether bromobenzene universally implies 1-bromobenzene, and the discussion remains unresolved regarding the specifics of nomenclature and structural representation.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not address potential limitations in their understanding of chemical nomenclature or the implications of molecular rotation on structural identity.

PhysicBeginner
Messages
35
Reaction score
0
Does bromobenzene mean that a bromine is bonded to every carbon in the benzene ring?

When it saids 1-ethylbenzene where do i put the ethyl since benzene is in a ring?

Thx in advance
 
Physics news on Phys.org
no just one one carbon of the benzene, 1-bromobenzene.
 
so is it infered that whenever i see bromobenzene it means 1-bromobenzene? and where would i put the bromine if its 1 only?
 
It doesn't matter which carbon gets the bromine, since the resulting molecule can be rotated arbitrarily. In other words, sticking a bromine on the bottom or a bromine on the top results in the same molecule. If you stuck it on the top, you could rotate the resulting molecule to make it appear on the bottom. The molecule isn't changed by simply being rotated.

- Warren
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
4K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
9K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
7K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
62K
Replies
3
Views
5K
Replies
8
Views
7K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
5K