Based on experimental heats of hydrogenation, what is the resonance energy of benzene that accounts — Aromatic Hydrocarbons Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

The theoretical heat of hydrogenation for localized cyclohexatriene is -85.8 kcal/mol. The experimental value for benzene is -49.8 kcal/mol. The difference, 36.0 kcal/mol, is the resonance energy locked within the aromatic ring.