why does nitration of benzene with nitric acid need the use of concentrated sulphuric acid

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Solution

1. Sulphuric acid is used to generate the nitrosyl cation.

2. This cation is the main electrophile that attacks the aromatic system.

3. The reaction is as shown:

H₂SO₄ + HNO₃ $\to$ NO₂⁺ + 2 HSO₄^- + H₃O⁺

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Similar questions

Nitration of benzene by nitric acid and sulphuric acid is:

Explain why

(a) Only all-glass apparatus should be used for the preparation of nitric acid by heating concentrated sulphuric acid and potassium nitrate.

(b) Nitric acid is kept in a reagent bottle for a long time.

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