The question is incomplete, the complete question is;
What is the purpose of reacting 2.0mL of HNO3 with 2.0 mL of H2SO4 in a separate test tube, prior to adding it to the solution containing the substrate? more than one answer is possible
A) The release of a water molecule that acts as an electrophile in the reaction with methyl benzoate.
B) The formation of nitronium ion, which acts an electrophile in the reaction with methylbenzoate.
C)The formation of bisulfate (hydrogen sulfate), which acts as an electrophile in the reaction with methylbenzoate.
D)The release of a water molecule that acts as a nucleophile in the reaction with methyl benzoate.
Answer:
B) The formation of nitronium ion, which acts an electrophile in the reaction with methylbenzoate.
Explanation:
The benzene ring is known to be stable hence it can only undergo a substitution reaction with the aromatic ring still intact. When the substitution reaction involves an electrophile we refer to the process as electrophillic aromatic substitution. Electrophilic aromatic substitution is a useful synthetic route for many organic compounds.
In the electrophilic substitution of methyl benzoate using the 1:1 volume ratio mixture of H2SO4/HNO3, the nitronium ion (NO2+) is the electrophile generated in the test tube. It is this NO2+ that now reacts with the methyl benzoate to yield the reaction product.
