Why does benzene undergo electrophilic substitution rather than addition reaction?

Why does benzene undergo electrophilic substitution rather than addition reaction?

Benzene is a planar molecule having delocalized electrons above and below the plane of ring. Hence, it is electron-rich. As a result, it is highly attractive to electron deficient species i.e., electrophiles. Therefore, it undergoes electrophilic substitution reactions very easily.

Why alkenes undergo electrophilic addition reaction and not electrophilic substitution reaction?

Explain. Alkenes are rich source of loosely held pi (π) electrons due to which they show electrophilic addition reaction . That’s why alkenens prefer to undergo electrophilic addition reaction while while arenes prefer electrophilic substitution reaction.

Why does benzene prefer undergo electrophilic aromatic substitution and not addition?

The six pi electrons obey Huckel’s rule so benzene is especially stable. This means that the aromatic ring wants to be retained during reactions. Because of this benzene does not undergo addition like other unsaturated hydrocarbons.

Why does electrophilic substitution occur in benzene?

The reaction of Cl2 with benzene is thus called an electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS for short): Electrophilic, because we’re adding an electron-poor species (electrophile), substitution, because we’re breaking C-H and forming C-E, where E is our electrophile (Cl in this case).

Why do benzene prefer electrophilic substitution reaction and not electrophilic addition reaction?

There are delocalised electrons above and below the plane of the ring. The presence of the delocalised electrons makes benzene particularly stable. Benzene resists addition reactions because that would involve breaking the delocalisation and losing that stability.

Why do alkenes prefer electrophilic substitution reaction?

On addition reaction to the double bond of arene, a product is obtained which is not resonance stabilized whereas on substitution the resonance stability of arene is maintained. Thus, arenes prefer to undergo substitution reaction while alkenes prefer to undergo addition reaction.

Why do alkenes undergo addition reactions?

Alkenes are unsaturated molecules, which means they do not have all the hydrogen they could have. This is because there is at least one double bond between carbons. This is a stable structure, but not the most stable, so when certain compounds or elements are added, like fluorine, they undergo an addition reaction.

Why do alkenes show electrophilic addition reaction?

Why do alkenes undergo electrophilic addition reactions? Alkenes are doubly bound and sp2 hybridized, which can be donated to an electrophile, such as electrophilic addition, by the electrons in the side-to-side overlap of p orbitals that allows the pi bond.

Why benzene does not give addition reaction?

Why benzene does not undergo addition reaction despite being highly saturated? Benzene is an aromatic compound and is stabilized due to resonance or delocalization of π electrons. When it undergoes addition reactions, it will lose resonance stabilization. Hence it resists electrophilic additions to double bonds in it.

Why does benzene undergo electrophilic substitution reactions easily?

Benzene is a planar molecule having delocalized electrons above and below the plane of ring. Hence, it is electron-rich. As a result, it is highly attractive to electron deficient species i.e., electrophiles. Therefore, it undergoes electrophilic substitution reactions easily.

What is the difference between alkenes and benzene?

In alkenes the double bond can be broken easily whereas in benzene it is resonance stabilised so it can only undergo electrophilic substitution and not addition reaction. The three double bonds in a benzene ring are conjugated and hence stabilize the benzene ring due to resonance.

Why do Alkenes undergo electrophilic substitution reactions?

Alkenes also undergo elecrophilic reaction because they also contains pi electrons which act as source of electron, but they give addition products. Generally electrophilic substitution reaction occurs in two steps. loss of proton from the carbocation i.e. arenium ion to get back the aromatic system.

Why are addition reactions avoidable on benzene rings?

The three double bonds in a benzene ring are conjugated and hence stabilize the benzene ring due to resonance. This makes benzene ring exceptionally stable and hence addition reactions are avoidable on benzene ring.