What are specific examples of polynuclear aromatic compounds?
An achedemic term, but “aromatic” compounds contain 6 membered benzene rings. These can link together like the cells in a honeycomb. If “polynucleur” means “more than 1 ring”, there are hundreds of examples. Naphthalene is a combination of 2 benzene rings joined on one side. It is used as an insect repellant (one of the formulations for “mothballs”), and the ring structure is the framework of many industrial chemicals, like detergents and dyes. A honeycomb can expand in two dimensions and if the ring structure does the same, graphite is the result. This form of pure carbon consists of honeycombed polyaromatic sheets stacked on top of one another. Because there is no bonding between the sheets, this makes them slide past one another. This is the reason graphite is so soft (it is what the “lead” in pencils is made of). However, if the sheets are rolled back on themselves, tubes can be constructed. These are the carbon nanotubes which are becomming very important in lightweight, but very
