Nitrobenzene can be prepared from benzene by using a mixture of conc. $ ext{HNO}_3$ and conc. $ ext{H}_2 ex

Question

Nitrobenzene can be prepared from benzene by using a mixture of conc. $	ext{HNO}_3$ and conc. $	ext{H}_2	ext{SO}_4$. In the mixture, nitric acid acts as a/an:

Accepted Answer

In the nitration of benzene, the electrophile, nitronium ion ($	ext{NO}_2^+$), is produced by the transfer of a proton from concentrated sulphuric acid to concentrated nitric acid. In this process of generating the nitronium ion, sulphuric acid donates a proton (serving as an acid) and nitric acid accepts the proton (serving as a base) . Therefore, nitric acid acts as a base in the nitrating mixture.

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