What is the bond angle (in degrees) in the structure of a benzene molecule?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is option 2. \(120^o\).
In a benzene molecule (\(C_6H_6\)), each carbon atom is bonded to two other carbon atoms and one hydrogen atom. These bonds are formed through sp^2 hybridization, where each carbon atom uses one 2s orbital and two 2p orbitals to form three equivalent sp^2 hybrid orbitals. These orbitals arrange themselves in a trigonal planar geometry, with an angle of \(120^\circ\) between them.
The bond angle in a benzene molecule is \(120^\circ\) due to the arrangement of the sp^2 hybrid orbitals around each carbon atom. This angle is consistent with the geometry of a regular hexagon, as benzene has a planar, hexagonal structure. The delocalized pi electrons in benzene are responsible for its aromaticity, providing additional stability to the molecule.