We show that (a) only a single water molecule is needed to stabilize the naphthalene anion, (b) the EA(a) of naphthalene is -0.20 eV, in agreement with determinations by electron transmission spectroscopy, (c) the energetics are consistent with the number of waters required to stabilize the naphthalene anion, and (d) the excess electron is located on the naphthalene moiety of Nph(1)(-)(H2O)(n). (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(00)00915-6].