Which of the following substituents on a benzene ring is a strong electron-donating group?

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Q: Which of the following substituents on a benzene ring is a strong electron-donating group?

Solution: The hydroxyl group (-OH) is a strong electron-donating group due to resonance, enhancing the nucleophilicity of the benzene ring.

Steps: 7

Step 1: Understand what a benzene ring is. A benzene ring is a circular arrangement of six carbon atoms with alternating double bonds.
Step 2: Learn about substituents. Substituents are groups of atoms that can replace a hydrogen atom on the benzene ring.
Step 3: Identify what an electron-donating group is. An electron-donating group is a substituent that can donate electrons to the benzene ring, making it more reactive.
Step 4: Recognize the hydroxyl group (-OH). The hydroxyl group consists of an oxygen atom bonded to a hydrogen atom.
Step 5: Understand resonance. Resonance is a way to describe the delocalization of electrons in a molecule, which can stabilize the molecule.
Step 6: Determine how the hydroxyl group donates electrons. The -OH group can share its lone pair of electrons with the benzene ring through resonance, making the ring more nucleophilic.
Step 7: Conclude that the hydroxyl group is a strong electron-donating group because it effectively increases the electron density of the benzene ring.