Consider the molecule ethylbenzene, a common starting material for side-chain reactions. How many be — Aromatic Hydrocarbons Chemistry Question
Question
Consider the molecule ethylbenzene, a common starting material for side-chain reactions. How many benzylic hydrogen atoms are present in a single molecule of ethylbenzene?
Answer: 2
💡 Solution & Explanation
A benzylic hydrogen is a hydrogen atom attached directly to a benzylic carbon (the carbon atom immediately adjacent to an aromatic ring). In ethylbenzene ($C_6H_5-CH_2-CH_3$), the methylene group ($-CH_2-$) is the benzylic carbon. It bears exactly 2 hydrogen atoms. The terminal methyl group hydrogens are non-benzylic.
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