Organic chemistry is a branch of chemistry that deals with the study of carbon-based compounds. It is a vast field of study that covers numerous reactions and mechanisms. One of the fundamental concepts in organic chemistry is predicting the major organic product of a reaction. In this article, we will discuss the major organic product of the following reaction.
Reaction
The reaction we will be discussing is the reaction between benzene and nitric acid in the presence of sulfuric acid. This reaction is known as nitration of benzene. The reaction can be represented as:
The reaction involves the substitution of a hydrogen atom on the benzene ring with a nitro group (-NO2) in the presence of a strong acid catalyst.
Mechanism
The mechanism of nitration of benzene involves the following steps:
- Step 1: Protonation of Nitric Acid
- Step 2: Formation of Nitronium Ion
- Step 3: Electrophilic Attack on Benzene
- Step 4: Deprotonation and Formation of Nitrobenzene
The nitronium ion is the electrophile in this reaction, which attacks the benzene ring to form the major organic product, nitrobenzene.
Major Organic Product
The major organic product of the nitration of benzene is nitrobenzene. Nitrobenzene is an aromatic compound with a nitro group (-NO2) attached to the benzene ring. It is a pale yellow oily liquid with a sweet, pleasant odor. Nitrobenzene is used in the production of aniline, which is an important precursor for the manufacture of dyes, rubber chemicals, and pharmaceuticals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, predicting the major organic product of a reaction is a crucial skill in organic chemistry. The nitration of benzene is an important reaction that produces nitrobenzene as the major organic product. Nitrobenzene has various applications in the chemical industry, making it an important compound in organic chemistry.
