Out of benzene, m-dinitrobenzene and toluene which will undergo…

Question 30 of 32intermediate🔍 AnalyzeShort Answer2 marks

Out of benzene, m-dinitrobenzene and toluene which will undergo nitration most easily and why?

Correct Answer

Toluene will undergo nitration most easily.

Exercise: EXERCISES | Q: 9.23 | (Page Page 33)

For More Understanding

Explanation

Nitration is an electrophilic substitution reaction. The methyl group ( $-CH_3$ ) present in toluene is an electron-donating group, which increases the electron density on the benzene ring. This makes the ring more susceptible to attack by an electrophile. In contrast, the nitro groups ( $-NO_2$ ) in $m$ -dinitrobenzene are electron-withdrawing, which decreases the electron density and deactivates the ring. Benzene has no substituent, so its reactivity lies between toluene and $m$ -dinitrobenzene.

Solution Steps

Step 1: Identify the nature of the reaction. Nitration is an electrophilic substitution reaction.
Step 2: Analyze the substituents. Toluene has an electron-donating methyl group ( $-CH_3$ ), while $m$ -dinitrobenzene has two electron-withdrawing nitro groups ( $-NO_2$ ).
Step 3: Conclude the reactivity. The electron-donating group in toluene increases electron density on the ring, making it the most reactive towards the electrophile.

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