Electrophilic Substitution Orientation
Easychemistry
In nitration of toluene, major products are:
Select the correct option:
Solution
Incorrect! Answer:
Ortho and para
- Substituent Nature: The methyl group (−CH3) in toluene is an activating group.
- Electronic Influence: It donates electron density into the ring through hyperconjugation and the +I effect.
- Directing Effect: Resonance structures show that electron density increases primarily at the ortho (2,6) and para (4) positions.
- Mechanism: Incoming electrophiles (NO2+) are therefore directed to these electron-rich positions.
- Distribution: Both ortho and para nitro-toluene are formed as major products. Meta is extremely minor.
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About This Question
- Subject
- chemistry
- Chapter
- basic organic principles
- Topic
- electrophilic substitution orientation
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Year
- 2025
Solution
Correct Answer:
Ortho and para
- Substituent Nature: The methyl group (−CH3) in toluene is an activating group.
- Electronic Influence: It donates electron density into the ring through hyperconjugation and the +I effect.
- Directing Effect: Resonance structures show that electron density increases primarily at the ortho (2,6) and para (4) positions.
- Mechanism: Incoming electrophiles (NO2+) are therefore directed to these electron-rich positions.
- Distribution: Both ortho and para nitro-toluene are formed as major products. Meta is extremely minor.
This easy difficulty chemistry question is from the chapter basic organic principles, covering the topic of electrophilic substitution orientation. It appeared in the 2025 exam.
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