Aromatic compounds are a special class of cyclic compounds with exceptional stability due to the delocalized π electron cloud.
Benzene is the prototypical aromatic compound, and its aromatic character can be understood through several criteria:
Planarity: Benzene is a planar molecule, allowing optimal overlap of p orbitals.
Cyclic Structure: Benzene's ring structure allows for continuous overlap of p orbitals.
Conjugation: Benzene has alternating single and double bonds, allowing for the delocalization of π electrons.
Hückel’s Rule: This is a critical criterion for aromaticity.