200 years of benzene, the peculiar molecule that defied classification

Two centuries ago, Michael Faraday was tasked with identifying an oily residue created during the production of portable gas. He named the compound ‘bicarburet of hydrogen’. This fascinating molecule defied classification, with a surprising level of stability despite its unsaturated nature.

Now known to us as benzene, this molecule has grown to be one of the most fundamental industrial chemicals and a crucial building block in organic chemistry. Its offspring – the aromatic hydrocarbons, and especially the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) – have spread into countless corners of science and technology, from medicine to materials, and are also present in interstellar space.

Join us to celebrate 200 years of benzene, walking through the history of its discovery and its impact on the chemical world. During this webinar, topics will include:

• A historical narrative of Faraday’s discovery, highlighting how curiosity-driven research can seed transformative industries
• An exploration of the long-winded path to the discovery of benzene’s structure
• The birth of graphene and the subsequent rise of 2D materials

To aid accessibility, automatically generated closed captions – which can be turned on and off at your leisure – will be available to all those attending live. Please note, a certificate of attendance will be provided soon after the event. You do not need to request this – only those who attend the webinar live will be eligible.