See image — GOC and Organic Chemistry Basics Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

# Aromaticity Analysis **Hückel's Rule**: A cyclic, planar compound is aromatic if it contains $(4n + 2)$ π electrons, where $n = 0, 1, 2, ...$ **Evaluate each option:** **(A) Benzene ($C_6H_6$)** - 6 π electrons in a planar, cyclic conjugated system - Check: $4n + 2 = 6 \Rightarrow n = 1$ ✓ - **Fully aromatic** with maximum stability **(B) Naphthalene ($C_{10}H_8$)** - 10 π electrons total, but shares one bond between rings - Effective π electrons: behaves with 10-electron system - Check: $4n + 2 = 10 \Rightarrow n = 2$ ✓ - Aromatic, but **lower aromatic character** than benzene (shared bond causes localization) **(C) Anthracene ($C_{14}H_{10}$)** - 14 π electrons in three fused rings - Check: $4n + 2 = 14 \Rightarrow n = 3$ ✓ - Aromatic, but **significantly reduced aromatic character** (central ring has substantial diene character) **Why (A) is most aromatic:** - Benzene has the **highest resonance stabilization energy** per atom - Single, independent aromatic ring with no competing localized π bonds - Most resistant to addition/substitution reactions - Maximum aromaticity is achieved in a simple monocyclic system **Answer: (A) Benzene**