During the electrophilic substitution of benzene to form nitrobenzene, the active electrophile is generated in situ by reacting concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid according to the equation:
HNO3+2H2SO4→NO2++H3O++2HSO4− \text{HNO}_3 + 2\text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 \rightarrow \text{NO}_2^+ + \text{H}_3\text{O}^+ + 2\text{HSO}_4^- HNO3+2H2SO4→NO2++H3O++2HSO4−Which statement regarding this reaction is correct?
HNO3\text{HNO}_3HNO3 is oxidized to the nitronium ion (NO2+\text{NO}_2^+NO2+).
H3O+\text{H}_3\text{O}^+H3O+ acts as the electrophile that attacks the aromatic ring.
One molecule of H2SO4\text{H}_2\text{SO}_4H2SO4 acts as a Brønsted-Lowry acid, while the other acts as a Brønsted-Lowry base.
HNO3\text{HNO}_3HNO3 acts as a Brønsted-Lowry base.
