Question

Number of $\pi$ electrons present in naphthalene is

• A. 4
• B. 6
• C. 10
• D. 14

Hint:

Aromatic compounds follow Huckel’s rule: \(4n+2\) $\pi$ electrons.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Naphthalene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon consisting of two fused benzene rings. For a compound to be aromatic, it must follow Huckel's rule, which states it must have \( (4n + 2) \pi \) electrons.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The molecular formula of naphthalene is \( \text{C}_{10}\text{H}_{8} \).
Structurally, it consists of two benzene rings fused at a common bond.
When we draw the Kekulé structure for naphthalene, it contains 5 conjugated double bonds.
Each double bond consists of 2 \( \pi \) electrons.
Total number of \( \pi \) electrons \( = 5 \times 2 = 10 \).
This satisfies Huckel's rule for \( n = 2 \): \( 4(2) + 2 = 10 \).
Step 3: Final Answer:
The number of \( \pi \) electrons in naphthalene is 10.