Question map
Which one of the following statements is not correct for benzene?
Explanation
Benzene (C6H6) is a planar, cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. Each carbon atom is sp2 hybridized, forming sigma bonds with two adjacent carbon atoms and one hydrogen atom at a bond angle of 120°. The unhybridized p-orbitals overlap to form a delocalized pi-electron system, creating a symmetrical electron cloud above and below the ring plane. This delocalization results in all C–C bond lengths being identical (approximately 1.39 Å), which is intermediate between a standard single bond (1.54 Å) and a double bond (1.34 Å). Statement 4 is incorrect because benzene is a single, highly stable resonance hybrid molecule, not a mixture of six isomers. While C6H6 can have various structural isomers (like Dewar benzene or benzvalene), these are distinct chemical species with different properties and are not 'benzene' itself, which exists as a unique aromatic structure.