Question

Benzoic acid reacts with conc. $HN{O}_3$ and conc. $H_{2}S{O}_4$ to give major product as:

• A. o-nitrobenzoic acid
• B. p-nitrobenzoic acid
• C. m-nitrobenzoic acid
• D. (a) and (b) above.

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

• When benzoic acid is treated with a mixture of $conc.HN{O}_{3}andconc.H_{2}S{O}_4$, m-nitrobenzoic acid is formed.

• The replacement of the H atom of a benzoic acid ring by the nitro group is carried out by treating benzoic acid with concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid.
• The COOH group is the meta-directing group because it is the electron-withdrawing group.
• It pulls the electron density towards itself and acts as a deactivating group on the benzoic acid ring which gives generally meta substituted nitro group as a major product.