Nitration of aniline in strong acidic medium also gives m-nitroaniline because
- in spite of substituents nitro group always goes to only m-position
- in electrophilic substitution reactions amino group is meta directive
- in absence of substituents nitro group always goes to m-position
- in acidic (strong) medium aniline is present as anilinium ion
Answer
(4) in acidic (strong) medium aniline is present as anilinium ion
Solution
As per NCERT, in the strongly acidic medium aniline is protonated to form the anilinium ion, C6H5 NH3, which is meta directing.
⇒ That is why, besides the ortho and para derivatives, a significant amount of the meta derivative (m-nitroaniline) is also formed.
Answer: (4)