Polycyclic aromatic compound

Definition

Polycyclic aromatic compounds are organic molecules composed of two or more fused aromatic rings made of carbon and hydrogen atoms. These rings share a set of conjugated π-electrons that contribute to the compound's stability and unique chemical properties.

Related terms

Aromaticity:

The chemical property of conjugated ring molecules that results in unusual stability due to the delocalization of π-electrons.

Benzene:

A basic aromatic hydrocarbon with a six-membered carbon ring structure, representing the foundational unit for more complex polycyclic aromatic compounds.

Naphthalene:

An example of a simple polycyclic aromatic compound consisting of two fused benzene rings, commonly used in mothballs and as a precursor for other chemicals