A Periodic Table for Benzenoid Hydrocarbon Isomer Classes and Beyond

Abstract

The Periodic Table of Atomic Elements is a two-dimensional array (spreadsheet) generated according to an aufbau principle. As will be illustrated by a Formula Periodic Table for Benzenoid Hydrocarbons, this construction turns out to be more general than heretofore realized. These ‘super spreadsheets’ have a unique structure of their own, which contains chemical information in compact form. The concept of a periodic table set is like the concept of a group in mathematics. Once their respective criteria are fulfilled, one can anticipate their characteristic set properties. As such, a periodic table set is a useful mnemonic device for organizing, studying, and understanding property trends in large classes of related molecules. The Periodic Table for Benzenoid Hydrocarbons has organized this class of hydrocarbons into a systematic framework and has led to the identification of a new topological paradigm.