write balanced chemical equation for the nitration reaction with benzene
Answers
Answer:
electrophilic substitution - the nitration of benzene. This page gives you the facts and a simple, uncluttered mechanism for the electrophilic substitution reaction between benzene and a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulphuric acid.
Answer:
The CLASSIC nitrating mixture is conc. nitric, and conc. sulfuric acids…the which engage in a bit of INORGANIC dehydration….i.e.
HO−N+(=O)O−+H2SO4⟶HON+(=O)OH+HSO−4
And ….
HON+(=O)OH⟶O=N+=O+H2O
And this LINEAR, CATIONIC nitronium ion, O=N+=O , is a potent electrophile, and will react with the electron-rich, nucleophilic benzene ring…
C6H6+N+O2⟶C6H6NO+2
C6H6NO+2+HSO−4⟶C6H5NO2+H2SO4
….successive nitrations are directed META to the original nitro substituent …. and when this is done with a a toluene substrate, we could end with the explosive 1,3,5-trinitrotoluene …
And when you do nitrations in senior organic lab sessions, it might be a good idea to step away from the hood, if your reaction mixture gets a bit too hot, and bubbly….