This lesson has a nice ring to it! Teach your class about the important solvent, benzene, in a short, informative video. Young organic chemists learn the structure of the benzene ring through various acceptable representations. The narrator also discusses several important compounds that are based on benzene, and how atoms and molecules can be added to the ring.

Concepts

benzene, double bonds, electrons, valence electrons, solvents

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Have pupils practice making molecular models of the benzene ring, then experimenting with the substitution possibilities shown in the resource
• Use the video to introduce aromatic ring chemistry at the beginning of the unit

Classroom Considerations

• Prior knowledge of covalent bonding and hydrocarbon chemistry is helpful in viewing the video

Pros

• Animations show all of the possible ways to draw benzene and its related compounds, an important (and often confusing) topic for organic chemistry students
• The narrator gives many well-known examples of compounds that are rooted in the benzene ring (such as aspirin), giving the class some real-world perspective

Cons

• None