Chemical properties of benzene

Because of the existence of Π - electron clouds above and below the plane benzene ring, the ring works as a source of electrons and is simply attacked by electrophiles (Electron loving reagents). Therefore electrophilic substitution reaction are the characteristic reactions of aromatic compounds.

Substitution reactions in benzene are favoured rather than addition are because of the fact that in the former reactions resonance stabilised benzene ring system is retained when the addition reactions lead to the destruction of benzene ring. Principal reactions of benzene can be studied within three heads,

            (1) Addition reactions

            (2) Substitution reactions

            (3) Oxidation reactions