Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Resonance Energy
Resonance energy is the difference in energy between a molecule's actual structure and the energy of the most stable Lewis structure. It reflects the stabilization gained from resonance, where electrons are delocalized over multiple atoms. In biphenyl, resonance energy can be calculated by comparing the heat of hydrogenation of biphenyl to that of its fully saturated counterpart, indicating how much energy is saved due to resonance.
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Heat of Hydrogenation
The heat of hydrogenation is the amount of energy released when an unsaturated compound reacts with hydrogen to become saturated. It serves as a measure of the stability of the compound; lower heat of hydrogenation indicates greater stability due to resonance. For biphenyl, the heat of hydrogenation provides a basis for calculating its resonance energy by comparing it to the heat of hydrogenation of the corresponding saturated compound.
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Comparative Resonance in Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
In polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons like biphenyl and naphthalene, resonance energy varies due to structural differences. Naphthalene, with its fused benzene rings, has a higher resonance energy than biphenyl, which consists of two separate benzene rings. This difference arises because naphthalene allows for greater delocalization of π-electrons across its structure, leading to increased stability and lower energy compared to biphenyl.
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