Nitration of benzene

• explain the term electrophillic substitution?

  An electrophile pulls the electron pair out, causing the reactant to become positively charged. Thus, one element is switched out by the electrophile reagent.
• What is the reagent needed to nitrate benzene?

  Concentrated HNO3, nitric acid.
• What is the catalyst needed to nitrate benzene?

  Concentrated sulphuric acid, H2SO4
• What temperature is needed to nitrate benzene?

  50 degrees Celcius
• Why is it important that temperatures do not go past 50 degrees celcius when nitrating benzene?

  Further substitutions may occur and because the reaction is exothermic, dangerous amounts of heat will be released.
• What is the formula that shows the formation of the electrophile when nitrating benzene?

  H2SO4 + HNO3 -> H2NO3 (+) + H2SO3(-)
• What does H2NO3(+) disassociate into?

  NO2 (+) + H2O
• what is the overall equation that shows the formation of the electrophile when nitrating benzene?

  H2SO4 + HNO3 -> NO2 (+) + H2O + HSO4 (-)
• why are electrophiles attracted to benzene?

  The delocalised pi system