So, benzene. When you first put pen to a blank piece of paper, you have a number of choices to make. Do you draw the hexagon so that its top and
bottom are parallel to the top of the piece of paper, or so that the left and right sides are parallel to the left-hand side of the piece of paper? Or
put more simply, is your hexagon sitting on a single point, or is it resting comfortably on one of its sides? Of course, if the benzene ring is part
of a larger structure, you might be forced to choose one orientation over another. But if you’re just drawing a single solitary benzene ring, or if
you’re not constrained in any way by the bigger picture, do you always start by drawing your benzene ring the same way up?
Orientation aside, once you’ve made that decision, which way do you move the pen? Do you always follow the same sequence of strokes? Do you lift the
pen from the paper before completing the hexagon and going on to the double bonds? After giving it some thought, I’m pretty sure I always draw my
benzene rings the same way — and if you’d asked me to describe how I did it without actually going through the motion, I’m not sure I would have
got the answer right. I guess it’s because it’s second nature; I’ve done it so many times it just happens, and the way I do it is tucked away in
my subconscious somewhere. So, for me, I always sit my benzene rings on a point (if I have a choice) and I lift my pen off the paper twice before even
completing the hexagon. And I’m pretty sure I always draw the double bonds in the same order and direction as well. Full gory details shown in the
picture. |
