What is the effect of a nitro group on the reactivity of a benzene ring in electrophilic substitution?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the effect of a nitro group on the reactivity of a benzene ring in electrophilic substitution?
Activates the ring
Deactivates the ring
No effect
Makes the ring non-reactive
A nitro group is a strong electron-withdrawing group that deactivates the benzene ring, making it less reactive towards electrophilic substitution.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the effect of a nitro group on the reactivity of a benzene ring in electrophilic substitution?
Solution: A nitro group is a strong electron-withdrawing group that deactivates the benzene ring, making it less reactive towards electrophilic substitution.
Steps: 6
Step 1: Understand what a benzene ring is. It is a stable structure made of six carbon atoms arranged in a circle, 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: Know what a nitro group is. A nitro group (-NO2) is a functional group that contains nitrogen and oxygen.
Step 4: Recognize that a nitro group is an electron-withdrawing group. This means it pulls electrons away from the benzene ring.
Step 5: Understand that when the nitro group pulls electrons away, it makes the benzene ring less reactive. This is because the ring has fewer electrons available to react with the electrophile.
Step 6: Conclude that the presence of a nitro group deactivates the benzene ring, making it less likely to undergo electrophilic substitution.
