Page "Aromatic hydrocarbon" Paragraph 0

An aromatic hydrocarbon or arene ( or sometimes aryl hydrocarbon ) is a hydrocarbon with alternating double and single bonds between carbon atoms forming rings.

The term ' aromatic ' was assigned before the physical mechanism determining aromaticity was discovered, and was derived from the fact that many of the compounds have a sweet scent.

The configuration of six carbon atoms in aromatic compounds is known as a benzene ring, after the simplest possible such hydrocarbon, benzene.

Aromatic hydrocarbons can be monocyclic ( MAH ) or polycyclic ( PAH ).