Question

Question #480c6

Answer 1

The reaction you describe matches the profile of an electrophilic aromatic substitution. If I'd have to guess what compound `"A"` is, I'd say benzene, which will classify the reaction as the nitration of benzene

![http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrophilic_aromatic_substitution]()

The nitration of benzene refers to the introduction of a nitro group into benzene by way of a nitrating mixture. Here is where the nitric acid and the sulfuric acid, which acts as a catalyst, come into play.

The first step in the nitration of benzene is the creation of the nitronium ion, `"NO"_2^(+)`, which is obtained by the removal of one electron from the nitrogen dioxide molecule, or `"NO"_2`.

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Since it is the stronger acid, sulfuric acid will protonate nitric acid on the `"OH"` group and allow for the loss of a water molecule and the formation of the nitronium ion.

The electron-rich benzene ring will attack the strong electrophile nitronium ion to eventually form nitrobenzene and sulfuric acid

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