Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The van't Hoff factor (i) is the ratio of the number of particles after association/dissociation to the number of particles before.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Benzoic acid in benzene undergoes dimerization due to intermolecular hydrogen bonding.
\[ 2\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{COOH} \rightleftharpoons (\text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{COOH})_2 \]
Initially, 2 molecules. After complete dimerization, they form 1 molecule. So, the van't Hoff factor \(i = \frac{1}{2} = 0.5\).
Step 3: Final Answer:
The van't Hoff factor is 0.5, which corresponds to option (C).