Which of the following statements correctly describes the aromaticity of benzene ($C_6{H}_6$)?

• A. Benzene is antiaromatic because it has $6$ π electrons in a planar ring.
• B. Benzene is nonaromatic because it is not cyclic.
• C. Benzene is nonaromatic because it does not have a conjugated π system.
• D. Benzene is aromatic because it has a planar ring with $6$ π electrons that follow Hückel's rule.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the definition of aromaticity: a molecule is aromatic if it is cyclic, planar, fully conjugated (continuous overlap of p orbitals), and contains a number of π electrons that satisfies Hückel's rule, which is given by the formula \$4n + 2\(, where \)n$ is a non-negative integer.
2. Examine benzene's structure: it is a six-membered carbon ring (\(C_6H_6\)) with alternating double bonds, which means it is cyclic and has a conjugated π system formed by overlapping p orbitals on each carbon atom.
3. Confirm planarity: benzene is planar, allowing for effective overlap of p orbitals and delocalization of π electrons above and below the ring plane.
4. Count the π electrons: each double bond contributes 2 π electrons, and benzene has three double bonds, so the total number of π electrons is \$6$.
5. Apply Hückel's rule: check if \$6\( π electrons fit the formula \)4n + 2\(. For \)n=1\(, \)4(1) + 2 = 6$, which matches benzene's π electron count, confirming that benzene is aromatic.