The Faraday Benzene Discovery and the Aromatic Revolution at the Royal Institution

This piece recounts Michael Faraday's 1825 discovery of benzene while studying whale-oil gas by fractional distillation at the Royal Institution, and traces the ensuing revolutions in dye chemistry, the petroleum industry, and structural chemistry. It highlights key figures from Humphrey Davy to August Kekulé and Kathleen Lonsdale, and connects Faraday's benzene work to modern aromaticity research.

Introduction

The video explores the 200 year anniversary of Michael Faraday isolating benzene, situating this moment at the Royal Institution and tracing its far-reaching consequences for chemistry and industry.

From Bookbinder to Scientist

Faraday's early life as the son of a blacksmith, his seven-year apprenticeship with the Rebaw bookbinding shop, and his exposure to books and lectures shaped his observational skills and manual dexterity, laying the groundwork for a scientific career.

Influences and Breakthrough

Key figures include Sir Humphrey Davy, Mrs Jane Marset, and the publication that inspired Faraday. The narrative follows Faraday's path to becoming Davy's assistant and ultimately a pivotal figure in the Royal Institution's laboratory culture.

The Benzene Discovery

Faraday's discovery came during the 1820s gas-light era when whale-oil generated a controversial oily byproduct. Through fractional distillation and meticulous analysis, he identified a new carbon-hydrogen compound, which would be named benzene a decade later, marking a turning point for organic chemistry and industry.

The Aromatic Revolution

The talk traces the legacy of benzene in coal tar dyes and the petroleum industry, and introduces August Kekulé and Archibald Cooper’s foundational ideas on structure and representation, leading to the concept of aromaticity and later to the understanding of electron delocalization.

Modern Aromaticity and Education

The speaker discusses contemporary research in aromaticity, including computational methods and DNA-related photoprotection mechanisms, and closes with Lady Kathleen Lonsdale’s crystallographic proof of benzene’s ring structure, highlighting the human elements behind scientific leaps.