👉 The benzene ion, often represented as C6H5O2-, is a negatively charged aromatic compound derived from benzene. Benzene itself is a cyclic, planar molecule with alternating double bonds, but when it gains an electron (forming the ion), it stabilizes through resonance, distributing the negative charge across the ring. This delocalization of electrons gives benzene its aromatic stability and unique chemical properties, making it less reactive than typical alkenes despite being positively charged. The ion retains the planar structure and conjugated π-electron system of benzene, but with the added negative charge localized on one of the carbon atoms, enhancing its solubility in polar solvents and influencing its reactivity in various chemical reactions.
