C12H10

C12H10 is the molecular formula for several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). It contains 12 carbon atoms and 10 hydrogen atoms, and its degree of unsaturation is 8, indicating multiple fused aromatic rings with no heteroatoms or saturated substituents.

The best-known isomer is acenaphthene, a bicyclic PAH in which a five-membered ring is fused to a naphthalene-like system. The C12H10 formula can describe other PAH arrangements as well, though acenaphthene is among the more widely studied examples.

Occurrence and production: Compounds with this formula occur in trace amounts in coal tar, petroleum residues, and combustion-derived environmental samples. They are commonly studied in environmental chemistry and materials science as representatives of PAHs.

Properties and uses: As nonpolar hydrocarbons, C12H10 compounds are sparingly soluble in water and more soluble in organic solvents. They typically exist as solids at room temperature. These molecules are often used as references in PAH research and as intermediates in organic synthesis for building more complex aromatic systems.

Safety: PAHs, including those with the C12H10 formula, can pose environmental and health concerns. Appropriate laboratory handling, containment, and exposure minimization are standard precautionary measures when working with these compounds.