The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
A ring compound, also called a cyclic compound, is one whose molecules contain atoms chemically bonded together to create a closed chain or circle. Generally, such molecules are organic, and so the ring configuration is composed of carbon atoms. Ring compounds most often contain five or six atoms to form pentagonal or hexagonal structures. Ring compounds may also be assembled to form double-ring structures. For example, 10 carbon atoms can be arranged into two conjoined hexagons, each hexagon sharing two carbon atoms with the other. Similarly, nine atoms can form a pentagon bonded to a hexagon, each ring sharing two atoms with the other ring. Many cyclic, or ring compounds exhibit the special properties of aromatic compounds. Aromatic compounds are volatile and have strong, characteristic odors. They are any of a large class of ring compounds that have alternating single and double bonds, including benzene and compounds that resemble benzene. Common aromatic compounds other than benzene include toluene, naphthalene, and anthracene, all of which are present in coal tar or creosote. Ring structures are generally very stable. Exceptions include three member ring compounds, like ozone. Ozone, consisting of three oxygen atoms bonded into a strained triangular ring, is highly unstable, and therefore very reactive.