What is the product of the electrophilic substitution of toluene with sulfuric acid?

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Q: What is the product of the electrophilic substitution of toluene with sulfuric acid?

Solution: The product is toluene sulfonic acid, formed when toluene reacts with sulfuric acid in an electrophilic substitution reaction.

Steps: 6

Step 1: Understand that toluene is a compound made of a benzene ring with a methyl group (CH3) attached.
Step 2: Know that sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is a strong acid that can act as an electrophile in reactions.
Step 3: In an electrophilic substitution reaction, the electrophile (sulfuric acid) attacks the benzene ring of toluene.
Step 4: The methyl group on toluene makes the benzene ring more reactive towards electrophiles.
Step 5: The sulfuric acid adds a sulfonyl group (SO3H) to the benzene ring, replacing one hydrogen atom.
Step 6: The final product of this reaction is toluene sulfonic acid, which has the formula C7H8O3S.