JEE Main · 2024 · Shift-ImediumHC-096

Given below are two statements: Statement-I: Nitration of benzene involves the following step: Statement-II: Use of…

Hydrocarbons · Class 11 · JEE Main Previous Year Question

Question

Given below are two statements: Statement-I: Nitration of benzene involves the following step: image Statement-II: Use of Lewis base promotes the electrophilic substitution of benzene.

In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Options
  1. a

    Both Statement-I and Statement-II are incorrect

  2. b

    Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

  3. c

    Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct

  4. d

    Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Correct Answerb

Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

Detailed Solution

Step 1: Evaluate Statement-I

Nitration of benzene involves formation of nitronium ion \ceNO2+\ce{NO2^+}: image This is the correct mechanism for nitronium ion formation. Statement-I is CORRECT.

Step 2: Evaluate Statement-II

Electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) is promoted by a Lewis ACID (like \ceAlCl3\ce{AlCl3}, \ceFeBr3\ce{FeBr3}, \ceBF3\ce{BF3}), NOT a Lewis base. Lewis acids generate the electrophile.

Lewis BASE would donate electrons, not generate electrophile. Statement-II is INCORRECT.

Key Points:

  • Nitronium ion \ceNO2+\ce{NO2^+} is the active electrophile in nitration
  • \ceH2SO4\ce{H2SO4} acts as an acid to protonate \ceHNO3\ce{HNO3}, generating \ceNO2+\ce{NO2^+}
  • EAS requires Lewis ACID catalyst (e.g., \ceAlCl3\ce{AlCl3}), not Lewis base

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