During nitration of benzene with a mixture of concentrated nitric aciid and concentrated sulphuric acid, nitric acid acts as a base. Explain.

Explanation

To explain why nitric acid (HNO3) acts as a base during the nitration of benzene with a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4), we can break down the process into several steps:

### Step 1: Understanding the Reaction Conditions
In the nitration of benzene, a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid is used. The sulfuric acid acts as a strong acid, while nitric acid is also present in the reaction mixture.

**Hint:** Consider the roles of acids and bases in chemical reactions and how they interact.

### Step 2: Proton Transfer
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