The radical is aromatic because it has

Options

A. 6 p-orbitals and 7 unpaired electrons
B. 6 p-orbitals and 6 unpaired electrons
C. 7 p-orbitals and 6 unpaired electrons
D. 7 p-orbitals and 7 unpaired electrons.

Answer

B

Explanation

In `Ph-overset(ast)CH_(2)` free radical, C-atom of `-CH_(2)` is also `sp^(2)`-hybridised. As such the unpaired electron is present in unhybridised p-orbital which is perpendicular to the plane of the benzene ring.
Thus benzyl free radical `(C_(6)H_(5)-overset(cdot)CH_(2))` has seven p-orbitals with one unpaired electron each. In is aromatic because it contains 6 `pi`-electrons is a planar ring system.