Why is benzene colorless?
The absorption energy is of too high a frequency to be visible.
The absorption energy is of too low a frequency to be visible.
Benzene does not absorb light.
Benzene is not conjugated.

A

¶2 states that the greater the number of conjugated bonds in a molecule, the more strongly the electrons in excited states will be stabilized. Thus the more conjugated a molecule, the lower the frequency and the longer the wavelength that will excite it. Benzene, with only three double bonds, requires absorption of light with a short wavelength, or high frequency and thus high energy. This energy is higher than the energy absorbed by colored compounds discussed in the passage. The light required to excite benzene electrons is in the ultraviolet range, so no color is produced when benzene absorbs light.

My Question: Ok, if benzene absorbs high freq light, the passage says nothing about what the subtraction color would be. So, why is the answer A? I mean, I thought the color of the material is the color of the freq that is not absorbed?

Thanks!

haven't seen the whole passage, but since the high freq > visible light spectrum benzene can't be seen in it (that is, visible light doesn't excite any pi electrons)