Benzoquinone (C₆H₄O₂) is a

quinone The quinones are a class of organic compounds that are formally "derived from aromatic compounds uch as benzene or naphthalene">benzene.html" ;"title="uch as benzene">uch as benzene or naphthalene] by conversion of an even number of –CH= group ...

with a single benzene ring. There are 2 (out of 3 hypothetical) benzoquinones: *

1,4-Benzoquinone 1,4-Benzoquinone, commonly known as ''para''-quinone, is a chemical compound with the formula C6H4O2. In a pure state, it forms bright-yellow crystals with a characteristic irritating odor, resembling that of chlorine, bleach, and hot plastic or ...

, most commonly, right image (also ''para''-benzoquinone, ''p''-benzoquinone, ''para''-quinone, or just quinone) *

1,2-Benzoquinone 1,2-Benzoquinone, also called ''ortho''-benzoquinone, is an organic compound with formula . It is one of the two isomers of quinone, the other being 1,4-benzoquinone. It is a red volatile solid that is soluble in water and ethyl ether. It i ...

, less commonly, left image (also ''ortho''-benzoquinone, ''o''-benzoquinone, ''ortho''-quinone) Benzoquinones

*1,3-benzoquinone "does not exist, because its structure would be nonplanar and highly strained", though derivatives are known. An alkylated ''p''-benzoquinone has been found in the

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow ...

s of ''

Iris kemaonensis ''Iris kemaonensis'', the Kumaon iris, is a plant species in the genus '' Iris'', it is also in the subgenus '' Iris'' and in the section ''Pseudoregelia''. It is a rhizomatous perennial, from Tibetan China, Bhutan, India, Kashmir and Nepal. I ...

''.

References

{{Chemistry index

See also

References