C6H8

C6H8 is a molecular formula representing a class of hydrocarbon compounds consisting of six carbon atoms and eight hydrogen atoms. Its nominal molecular weight is 80.00 g/mol, and the formula has a degree of unsaturation of three, indicating the presence of three rings and/or multiple bonds in the structure. Because it only specifies composition, there is no single compound defined by C6H8; numerous structural isomers share this formula.

Among the best-known isomers are cyclic dienes such as cyclohexadienes. Two commonly cited examples are 1,3-cyclohexadiene and 1,4-cyclohexadiene, each with the formula C6H8. These structures illustrate how a six-carbon framework can accommodate multiple bonds within a ring. In addition to cyclic dienes, other open-chain or bicyclic configurations can also fit the C6H8 formula, incorporating combinations of double bonds and/or a triple bond to total three degrees of unsaturation. Because multiple arrangements can share the same formula, identifying a specific compound requires a defined structural representation.

Applications and properties vary widely among the isomers. Some C6H8 structures serve as intermediates in organic synthesis or as model compounds for studying conjugation, reactivity, and aromaticity. Others may be short-lived or reactive, existing only under particular conditions or as part of a mixture. In databases and literature, C6H8 is treated as a formula entry, with exact identity established by the indicated molecular structure, spectroscopic data, or explicit identifiers such as SMILES or InChI.