MHT CET 2025 Chemistry question

Identify the product when ethylbenzene reacts with dil nitric acid.

(A)o-Nitroethylbenzene
(B)p-NitroethylbenzeneCorrect
(C)Ethoxybenzene
(D)Benzoic acid

Answer: (B)

Solution

The ethyl group is an electron-releasing (+I, hyperconjugating) group, so it activates the benzene ring towards electrophilic substitution and directs the incoming to the ortho and para positions. Both o- and p-nitroethylbenzene form, but the bulky ethyl group hinders attack at the ortho

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Question ID VK-101768