Benzene was discovered by Michael Faraday during the destructive distillation of vegetable oil in the ?

Benzene (C₆H₆) was discovered by Michael Faraday in 1825 during his experiments on illuminating gas. He obtained benzene through the destructive distillation of vegetable oil in the absence of oxygen. This process involves heating organic substances strongly without allowing air or oxygen to enter. Under these conditions, large organic molecules break down into smaller compounds, including hydrocarbons such as benzene.

The destructive distillation method prevents combustion because no oxygen is present. If oxygen were available, the organic matter would burn completely to form carbon dioxide and water, and benzene could not be isolated. By excluding oxygen, the reaction proceeds through decomposition, producing a mixture of gases and liquids, among which benzene was identified.

Faraday analyzed the substance and found that it had a simple empirical formula, C₆H₆. This composition was remarkable because it contained an equal number of hydrogen and carbon atoms, which was unusual for organic compounds known at that time. His discovery marked the beginning of aromatic chemistry and provided a foundation for studying ring structures and resonance.

Later, the structure of benzene was further explored by scientists like August Kekulé, who proposed the ring model with alternating double and single bonds. Faraday’s initial discovery of benzene through destructive distillation remains one of the most significant milestones in organic chemistry. It demonstrated how complex organic compounds can form from simpler natural materials under controlled heating without oxygen, leading to the development of the aromatic hydrocarbon family.

The process and Faraday’s work helped establish benzene as one of the most important compounds in organic chemistry, widely used in research, synthesis, and industrial applications