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Benzene is an organic chemical compound with the formula C₆H₆. It is sometimes abbreviated Ph-H. Benzene is a colorless and flammable liquid with a sweet smell and a relatively high melting point.  

'''Benzene''' is an [[organic]] [[chemical compound]] (an [[aromatic ring]]) with formula C₆H₆. It is sometimes abbreviated Ph-H. Benzene is a [[carcinogen]] which is a colorless and flammable liquid that has a pleasant, aromatic odor and a low [[melting point]].  

A [[hydrocarbon]], benzene is present in small proportion in some [[crude oil]]s and made commercially from [[petroleum]] by the [[catalyst|catalytic]] reforming of naphthenes in petroleum naphtha. It is also made from [[coal]] in the manufacture of [[Coke from coal|coke]]. Benzene is used as a [[solvent]] in the manufacture of detergents, synthetic fibers, petrochemicals, and is a component of high-octane gasoline.

The structure of benzene has been a matter of debate in the scientific establishment since its empirical formula (CH) was able to be deduced.

After the molecular formula, C₆H₆ was discovered, it allowed for a lot more speculation on the structure with many different ones being suggested, most involving multiple double bonds and ring structures. Kekulé came up with the structure accepted now by most of the scientific establishment, that of alternating single and double bonds in a six-membered ring. However, this structure is applied inconsistently, with many textbooks swapping randomly between the two possible structures, with no thought to the underlying reality. This has led some leading chemists to demand that this controversy it taught to students, including Dr Azo Mazur of the Rediscovery institute.

[[Category:Organic Chemistry]]

*Rediscovery Institute [http://www.re-discovery.org/ten_resonance.gif  diagram] illustrating the issue.

[[Category:Chemical Compounds]]

*[http://www.re-discovery.org/ Rediscovery Institute]