The simplest, yet the most important compound in this class of organic
compounds is benzene itself.
Arenes are hydrocarbns based on benzene units.
"Aromatic" was originally used to describe these compounds since
many have pleasent smells.
To the chemist, the word aromatic also carries with it stability
and reactivity implications.
The unusual stability of benzene compared to closely related alkenes is
what makes it important and gives benzene its own set of characteristic
reactions.
Reactions of benzenes are often quite recognisable from other systems by
the forcing reaction conditions that are often required.
