In the presence of a strong electrophile, which aromatic compound will undergo substitution the fastest?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
In the presence of a strong electrophile, which aromatic compound will undergo substitution the fastest?
Benzene
Phenol
Aniline
Toluene
Aniline will undergo substitution the fastest due to the strong activating effect of the amino group, which donates electron density to the ring.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: In the presence of a strong electrophile, which aromatic compound will undergo substitution the fastest?
Solution: Aniline will undergo substitution the fastest due to the strong activating effect of the amino group, which donates electron density to the ring.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand what an electrophile is. An electrophile is a chemical species that seeks to gain electrons and can react with electron-rich compounds.
Step 2: Know what aromatic compounds are. Aromatic compounds are a class of compounds that contain a benzene ring, which is stable and has delocalized electrons.
Step 3: Identify the role of substituents on the aromatic ring. Some groups can either activate or deactivate the ring towards electrophilic substitution.
Step 4: Recognize that the amino group (-NH2) is an activating group. It donates electron density to the benzene ring, making it more reactive towards electrophiles.
Step 5: Compare aniline (which has an amino group) with other aromatic compounds that have less activating or deactivating groups.
Step 6: Conclude that aniline will undergo substitution the fastest because the amino group significantly increases the electron density of the ring, making it more attractive to electrophiles.