MolDraw › Templates › Resonance › Benzene (Kekulé structures)
ResonanceFree
Benzene (Kekulé structures) template
Free template. Download it, or open it in MolDraw to change it first.
The two Kekulé forms of benzene, related by three curly arrows that move each π bond one position round the ring.
What the template shows
- Two equivalent Kekulé structures; six equal C–C bonds in the real molecule
- Resonance contributors
- Two equivalent Kekulé forms
- All six C–C bonds are the same length (139 pm), between C–C (154 pm) and C=C (134 pm).
- The hybrid is often drawn as a hexagon with a circle: six π electrons spread over the ring.
- The resonance (aromatic) stabilisation is about 150 kJ mol⁻¹, from heats of hydrogenation.
- The arrows only mark electron bookkeeping: benzene does not flip between the two forms.
- Contributors are not in equilibrium: the real species is one hybrid of them · every part of this figure is editable
Drawn with 12 atoms, 4 arrows, 2 shapes – every one editable in MolDraw.
Sources
How to use this template
- Press Edit in MolDraw. The template opens on the canvas of the free MolDraw editor.
- Change anything: move structures, edit atoms and labels, recolour highlights or delete what you do not need.
- Add your own structures, arrows and text next to it, or combine several templates on one page.
- Export the drawing as PNG, SVG or PDF for slides, worksheets, theses and papers.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Benzene (Kekulé structures) template free?
Yes. The Benzene (Kekulé structures) template is one of the free MolDraw templates: open it in the editor or download it from this page as SVG or PNG and use it in your slides, worksheets and notes.
Can I edit the Benzene (Kekulé structures) template?
Yes. It opens as an ordinary MolDraw drawing, so every structure, arrow, label and colour can be changed, and you can add your own content around it.
Is the chemistry checked?
Every structure is checked with RDKit and every curly arrow passes MolDraw’s electron-flow audit. The sources used are listed on this page.
How are resonance structures shown?
Each contributor is drawn separately, joined by double-headed resonance arrows, with curly arrows showing how the electrons move from one contributor to the next.