Unsubstituted benzoic acid lacks resonance due to steric effects

the verdict

REFUTED

the evidence says no

Recorded sources

0 sources for · 2 against

Counts group repeated records of the same source within each side. They do not measure evidence strength or source independence.

The claim that unsubstituted benzoic acid lacks resonance due to steric effects is scientifically incorrect, as benzoic acid is a classic example of a resonance-stabilized aromatic system.

The analysis

Unsubstituted benzoic acid does not suffer from steric inhibition of resonance because there are no bulky ortho substituents to twist the carboxyl group out of the plane of the benzene ring. Standard chemical texts and studies on benzoic acid confirm it possesses normal resonance structures.

Evidence against · 2

March's Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure, 5th Edition

Recorded source metadata

Shu-kun Lin, Jerry March. March's Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure, 5th Edition. 2001. https://doi.org/10.3390/61201064

Standard organic chemistry principles establish that unsubstituted benzoic acid exhibits significant resonance stabilization involving the aromatic ring and the carboxyl group.

Source citation format

See more details

More against · 1

Solvent sensitivity of ortho substituent effect on 13C NMR chemical shift of the carboxyl carbon (δco) in benzoic acid

Recorded source metadata

Susanta K. Sen Gupta, Ruchi Shrivastava. Solvent sensitivity of ortho substituent effect on 13C NMR chemical shift of the carboxyl carbon (δco) in benzoic acid. 2011. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrc.2802

Studies examining substituent and steric effects on benzoic acid derivatives demonstrate that unsubstituted benzoic acid possesses standard aromatic resonance features which are modulated rather than absent.

Source citation format

The paper trail · every fact has a biography

first checked01 Aug 2026

judged → REFUTED · 1801 Aug 2026

More receipts

Is it true that Phonological evolution involves regular processes of phoneme elision, vowel nasalization, and tonogenesis?Is it true that Hemangiomas are treatable with medication?Is it true that Research identifies forms of intelligence that diverge from standard IQ measures?

Random receipt →The Trust Wiki →

Anyone with this link can read the claim and its public receipt, including any personal information in that text. Open permanent receipt.

Check your own claim

Challenge the receipt

I have a source that contradicts this verdict I have a source that supports it No source: request a receipt review Requests are recorded for review. This does not start an automatic check or guarantee a response time.

trust me, bro: win the argument, pass the class, survive peer review.

Citation formatting by citeproc-js (Frank Bennett) and the Citation Style Language project. Source and licenses.

This receipt is an automated verdict against our published method · not an opinion about any author or publication.
Terms · Privacy · How verdicts work · Dispute this receipt