Question

Toluene is more easily nitrated than benzene . Explain

Answer 1

Answer:

Pls mark this as brainliest.

Toluene is methyl-benzene and according to the question we are comparing it with benzene  ( in context of nitration obviously)

Now of the many substituents that could be added to the benzene ring, the methyl group which is added to the benzene ring confers it special properties making it different from benzene .

What are these special properties?

The methyl group is an electron donating group. The extra electron density delivered into the ring by the substituent is not equally divided over the entire ring, but is concentrated on atoms 2, 4 and 6 (the ortho and para positions).

So how does that help?

Basically,the methyl of the toluene stabilizes the cationic intermediate formed during the substitution by donating electrons into the ring system, by either inductive effect or resonance effects making the reaction more favorable.

The above said positions (ortho and para) are  the most reactive towards an electron-poor electrophile, thus promoting electrophillic substitution reaction.

The methyl group hence makes it around 25 times more reactive than benzene hence making its nitration more easier than that of benzene.

Answer 2

Answer:

Toluene has a methyl group on the benzene ring which is electron releasing group and hence activate the benzene ring by pushing the electrons on the benzene ring.

The methyl group hence makes it around 25 times more reactive than benzene. Therefore it undergoes nitration easily than benzene.