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Aromatic hydrocarbons are chemicals with benzene rings, including benzene, which is toxic and common in pollutants. Benzene rings have delocalized electrons and can form polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through incomplete combustion. PAHs are toxic and found in many manufacturing plants. Aromatic hydrocarbons may also be abbreviated as AH or arene, and exposure to harmful ones like benzopyrene can occur through tobacco smoke and tar.
Aromatic hydrocarbons are a class of chemicals characterized by having molecular structures called benzene rings. Chemically the simplest is benzene and the structure of this hydrocarbon has given its name to the benzene ring. Many of these hydrocarbons are toxic, and are unfortunately among the most common organic pollutants.
A hydrocarbon is any chemical compound that contains only hydrogen and carbon. Some hydrocarbons may also contain trace amounts of impurities, as is the case with some aromatic hydrocarbons. In these cases, the impurities caused distinctive scents, leading chemists to term these compounds “aromatic.” In fact, not everyone smells; the scent was thought to be related to the benzene ring, but it is actually caused by impurities. The name remains stuck, however, as is often the case in science even after new information on a topic has emerged, to minimize confusion.
A benzene ring is a molecular structure that is created when six carbon atoms connect to each other in a linked ring. Each carbon atom has four electrons; two electrons attach to nearby carbon atoms, while one goes to a hydrogen atom. The fourth is what’s known as a delocalized electron, meaning it’s not directly involved with a specific atom. Benzene rings are often drawn as hexagonal shapes with a circle in the middle to represent these delocalized electrons. Benzene appears to be a particularly toxic form of aromatic hydrocarbon.
When benzene rings connect, they can form a range of substances, including so-called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or polyaromatic hydrocarbons. They are created through incomplete combustion, which is why they are so widely distributed in the natural environment. Most manufacturing plants, for example, use combustion in their operations, potentially generating large amounts of PAHs. Some PAHs are extremely toxic, which can lead to serious problems when they have been deposited in large quantities by human activity.
An aromatic hydrocarbon may also be known in the abbreviated form of AH or as arene. A wide range of compounds are classified as arene and their damaging potential is based on their molecular structure. Many people undoubtedly interact with a number of these substances every day without being aware of it, and depending on an individual’s lifestyle and activities, they may also be exposed to harmful arenas, such as benzopyrene, a PAH found in tobacco smoke and in the tar.
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