Question

Which is the electrophilic ion in nitration reaction of benzene?
(A) SO₃H⁺
(B) NO₂⁻
(C) NO₂⁺
(D) HNO₃

Answer 1

Answer:

Option C is the right answer for this.

Explanation:

Sulfonation and nitration are two cases where one can see electrophilic atomic substitution of Benzene. In each of the cases, the corresponding ions i.e. the nitronium ion and the sulfur trioxide ion act as electrophiles in the reaction and they react with benzene. As a result of this, nitrobenzene is formed and benzenesulfonic acid is also formed.

The nitronium ion which is positive undergoes a protonation of nitric acid to sulfuric acid and ultimately there is loss of water molecules before a nitronium ion is resulted. So benzene under the action of HNO3 and H2SO4 gives nitrobenzene.