1. Plural of arene; aromatic hydrocarbons containing a benzene ring or similar aromatic system.
Usage: chemistry; technical

Examples

• Benzene and toluene are common arenes used in organic synthesis.
• The reactivity of arenes depends on the nature and position of substituents on the ring.
• Arenes undergo electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions more readily than alkenes.
• Many arenes are found naturally in petroleum and coal tar.
• The chemist studied how different arenes interact with catalysts.