Which substituent on a benzene ring is a deactivating group for electrophilic substitution?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
Which substituent on a benzene ring is a deactivating group for electrophilic substitution?
Methyl
Methoxy
Nitro
Amino
The nitro group (-NO2) is a strong deactivating group due to its electron-withdrawing nature, making the ring less reactive towards electrophiles.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: Which substituent on a benzene ring is a deactivating group for electrophilic substitution?
Solution: The nitro group (-NO2) is a strong deactivating group due to its electron-withdrawing nature, making the ring less reactive towards electrophiles.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand what a benzene ring is. It is a circular arrangement of six carbon atoms with alternating double bonds.
Step 2: Learn about electrophilic substitution. This is a reaction where an electrophile (a positively charged species) replaces a hydrogen atom on the benzene ring.
Step 3: Identify what a substituent is. A substituent is a group of atoms that replaces a hydrogen atom on the benzene ring.
Step 4: Know the difference between activating and deactivating groups. Activating groups make the benzene ring more reactive towards electrophiles, while deactivating groups make it less reactive.
Step 5: Recognize the nitro group (-NO2) as an example of a deactivating group. It pulls electrons away from the benzene ring.
Step 6: Conclude that the nitro group (-NO2) is a strong deactivating group because it decreases the reactivity of the benzene ring towards electrophilic substitution.
