Benzene is a colorless liquid with a distinct odor.
It's highly flammable and volatile.
It is soluble in organic solvents while insoluble in water.
Its boiling point is 80.5°C.
It shows resonance.
Chemical Properties:
Nitration: Nitration involves the reaction when benzene is reacted with nitric acid in the presence of sulphuric acid. The temperature then remains at 55°C and it results in the formation of nitrobenzene.
Sulphonation: Benzene reacts with fuming sulphuric acid and results in the formation of benzene sulfonic acid in sulphonation reactions.
Halogenation: Benzene reacts with halogen in the presence of the Lewis acid resulting in the formation of aryl halide. This reaction is known as halogenation.
Friedel Crafts Acylation reaction: During the reaction of the benzene with an acyl halide, in presence of Lewis acid, it results in the formation of acyl benzene. This is called Friedel craft’s acylation reaction.
Friedel Crafts Alkylation reaction: During the reaction of the benzene with an alkyl halide, in presence of Lewis acid like anhydrous Aluminium Chloride, alkyl benzene is formed. This is called Friedel craft’s alkylation reaction.