Which of the following compounds is aromatic?

• A. Cyclobutadiene ($C_4{H}_4$)
• B. Cyclooctatetraene ($C_8{H}_8$)
• C. Benzene ($C_6{H}_6$)
• D. Cyclohexane ($C_6{H}_{12}$)

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the criteria for aromaticity: a compound must be cyclic, planar, fully conjugated (p orbitals at every atom in the ring), and follow Hückel's rule, which states it must have (4n + 2) π electrons, where n is a non-negative integer (0, 1, 2, ...).
2. Analyze each compound to check if it meets these criteria. First, determine if the compound is cyclic and planar, and if it has a continuous overlap of p orbitals (conjugation).
3. Count the number of π electrons in the ring for each compound. For example, each double bond contributes 2 π electrons. Use this to find the total π electrons in the ring.
4. Apply Hückel's rule by plugging the total π electrons into the formula (4n + 2). If the number fits this formula for some integer n, the compound is aromatic.
5. Compare the results for each compound: cyclobutadiene, cyclooctatetraene, benzene, and cyclohexane, and identify which one satisfies all aromaticity conditions.