Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Benzene ring: An aromatic functional group characterized by a ring of six carbon atoms, bonded by alternating single and double bonds. A benzene ring with a single substituent is called a phenyl group (Ph).




Benzene   
Pyridine


Benzene has a benzene ring, but pyridine does not.   
Pentafluorothiophenol (shown here)
has a benzene ring.
  
Taxol, an anticancer drug, has three benzene rings (shown in red).