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KCET · Chemistry · Amines

Nitration of aniline in strong acidic medium gives significant amount of m-nitroaniline because

  1. A In electrophilic substitution reaction, amino group is meta directing
  2. B In strong acidic medium, aniline is present as anilinium ion.
  3. C \(-\text{NH}_2\) group always directs to meta position.
  4. D m-nitroaniline has higher molar mass than o & p nitroanilines.
Verified Solution

Answer & Solution

Correct Answer

(B) In strong acidic medium, aniline is present as anilinium ion.

Step-by-step Solution

Detailed explanation

In a strong acidic medium, aniline undergoes protonation to form the anilinium ion (\(-\text{NH}_3^+\)).

The \(-\text{NH}_3^+\) group is strongly deactivating and meta-directing in nature.

Due to the formation of this anilinium ion, electrophilic substitution (nitration) occurs at the meta position, yielding a significant amount of m-nitroaniline (about \(47\%\)).

The \(-\text{NH}_2\) group itself is ortho and para directing, but its protonated form directs the incoming electrophile to the meta position.

Answer: In strong acidic medium, aniline is present as anilinium ion.