would aromatic rings be acidic or basic? they don't really have anything to lose or any spots to gain...
Aromatic rings, by themselves(benzene etc), are neutral.
Aromatic rings are typically not acidic or basic under normal conditions because they lack an available proton to donate or a lone pair of electrons to accept a proton. However, it is important to note that the acidity or basicity of a compound is determined by its specific functional groups or substituents rather than the aromatic ring itself.
If you are referring to substituted aromatic compounds, the functional groups attached to the ring can influence their acidity or basicity. For example, if an electron-withdrawing group, such as a nitro or carbonyl group, is present on the ring, it can increase the acidity of the compound. On the other hand, if an electron-donating group, such as an amino or alkyl group, is attached, it can increase the basicity of the compound.
To determine the acidity or basicity of a specific substituted aromatic compound, you need to consider the nature of the substituents and their electron-donating or electron-withdrawing effects. Additionally, experimental data and pKa values can provide further insights into the acidity or basicity of a compound if available.