How many electrons are involved exclusively in the highly strained, external "triple bond" character — Aromatic Hydrocarbons Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

The benzyne intermediate retains its standard $6\pi$ electron aromatic system intact within the ring. The additional bond that makes it a formal "triple bond" is formed by the sideways overlap of two adjacent $sp^2$ hybridized orbitals located outside the $\pi$ -system of the ring. This specific external weak $\pi$ bond contains exactly 2 electrons.