Understanding Benzene Reactions

If benzene reacted like a normal alkene, organic chemistry would be easy — but it doesn’t.

Benzene is weird — it doesn’t react like normal alkenes. Why? Aromatic stability.

So instead of addition reactions, benzene prefers "Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution" (EAS)

Here are the big four benzene reactions you MUST know for exams: 1.

Nitration Benzene + HNO₃ / H₂SO₄ → Nitrobenzene Electrophile: NO₂⁺ 2.

Halogenation Benzene + Br₂ / FeBr₃ → Bromobenzene Electrophile: Br⁺ 3.

Sulfonation Benzene + SO₃ / H₂SO₄ → Benzenesulfonic acid (reversible!)

4. Friedel–Crafts • Alkylation → adds alkyl groups • Acylation → adds