What is the IUPAC name of picric acid ?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → 2,4,6-Trinitrophenol
Picric acid is phenol carrying three nitro groups at the two ortho positions and the para position. It is made by treating phenol first with concentrated sulphuric acid and then with concentrated nitric acid:
\( \displaystyle \ce{C6H5OH} \xrightarrow{\text{conc. }\ce{H2SO4}} \text{phenol-2,4-disulphonic acid} \xrightarrow{\text{conc. }\ce{HNO3}} \ce{C6H2(NO2)3OH} \)
Numbering the ring from the carbon carrying –OH gives the IUPAC name 2,4,6-trinitrophenol. The three electron withdrawing nitro groups make it a strong acid.
NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Nitration – …
