Assertion (A): Anisole on nitration gives ortho- and para-substituted products.
Reason (R): The nitration of anisole is a nucleophilic substitution reaction.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (A) is true but (R) is false.
In the nitration of an aromatic ring, an electron-seeking species (an electrophile) from the acid mixture attacks the electron-rich ring and a nitro group replaces a ring hydrogen.
Assertion (A): Anisole on nitration gives ortho- and para-substituted products. — True. The methoxy group (–OCH3) activates the ring and is ortho, para directing, so anisole gives a mixture of o- and p-nitroanisole:
\( \displaystyle \ce{C6H5OCH3 + HNO3} \xrightarrow{\text{conc. }\ce{H2SO4}} \ce{O2NC6H4OCH3 + H2O} \)
Reason (R): The nitration of anisole is a nucleophilic substitution reaction. — False. The methoxy group makes the ring rich in electrons, so it is attacked by an electrophile, not a nucleophile; the nitration of anisole is an electrophilic substitution, not a nucleophilic one.
NCERT (2026-27 edition):
2. Electrophilic substitution – “The alkoxy group (-OR) is ortho, para directing and activates the aromatic ring towards electrophilic substitution in the same way as in phenol.”
“(iii) Nitration: Anisole reacts with a mixture of concentrated sulphuric and nitric acids to yield a mixture of ortho and para nitroanisole.”