What is the Difference Between Ferrocene and Benzene

The key difference between ferrocene and benzene is that ferrocene is an organometallic compound that occurs as an orange color solid with a camphor-like odor whereas benzene is a colorless liquid having a sweet aromatic odor.

Although the terms ferrocene and benzene rhyme similarly, they refer to two different organic compounds. Ferrocene is an organometallic compound having the chemical formula Fe(C5H5)2 while benzene is an organic compound having the chemical formula C6H6.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Ferrocene 
3. What is Benzene
4. Ferrocene vs Benzene in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Ferrocene vs Benzene

What is Ferrocene?

Ferrocene is an organometallic compound having the chemical formula Fe(C5H5)2. There are two cyclopentadienyl rings in this molecule that are bound on opposite sides of a central iron atom. This substance appears as an orange color solid substance having a camphor-like odor. Moreover, it can undergo sublimation at temperatures above room temperature. This substance is soluble in many organic solvents. It has remarkable stability because it is not affected by air, water, strong bases, and we can heat it to temperatures such as 400 Celsius degrees without decomposition. When there are oxidizing conditions, it reacts with strong acids but reversibly and forms the ferrocenium cation.

Industrial synthesis of ferrocene is done using the reaction of iron(II) ethoxide with cyclopentadiene. Here, the iron(II) ethoxide is produced from the electrochemical oxidation of metallic iron in anhydrous ethanol.

There are different applications of ferrocene such as using it as a ligand scaffold, as a fuel additive for antiknocking properties, in pharmaceutical products, as solid rocket propellent, etc.

What is Benzene?

Benzene is an organic compound having the chemical formula C6H6. It has a six-membered ring structure, and all members are carbon atoms. Each of these carbon atoms is attached to a hydrogen atom. Since this compound contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms, it is a hydrocarbon. Above all, this compound naturally occurs as a constituent of crude oil.

The molar mass of benzene is 78.11 g/mol. The melting point and boiling points are 5.53 °C and 80.1 °C, respectively. Benzene is a colourless liquid at room temperature. Furthermore, it is an aromatic hydrocarbon. As a result, it has an aromatic odour. Moreover, according to the X-ray diffraction determinations, all the bonds between the six carbon atoms have similar lengths. Therefore, it has an intermediate structure. We call it a “hybrid structure” because, according to the bond formation, there should be alternating single bonds and double bonds between the carbon atoms. Subsequently, the actual benzene structure is a result of several resonance structures of the benzene molecule.

What is the Difference Between Ferrocene and Benzene?

Ferrocene is an organometallic compound having the chemical formula Fe(C5H5)2, while Benzene is an organic compound having the chemical formula C6H6. The key difference between ferrocene and benzene is that ferrocene is an organometallic compound that occurs as an orange color solid with a camphor-like odor whereas benzene is a colorless liquid having a sweet aromatic odor.

The following figure presents the difference between ferrocene and benzene in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Ferrocene vs Benzene

Ferrocene is an organometallic compound, while benzene is an organic compound having the chemical formula C6H6. The key difference between ferrocene and benzene is that ferrocene is an organometallic compound that occurs as an orange color solid with a camphor-like odor whereas benzene is a colorless liquid having a sweet aromatic odor.

Reference:

1. “Benzene.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Ferrocene” By Roland Mattern – Roland1952 (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Benzene-aromatic-3D-balls” By Benjah-bmm27 – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia