Salicylic acid on treatment with nitrating mixture produces

Options

A. Phenol
B. p-nitrosalicylic acid
C. Toluic acid
D. Benzoic acid

Answer

To determine what salicylic acid produces when treated with a nitrating mixture, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the Structure of Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid has the following structure:
- It consists of a benzene ring with two functional groups: a hydroxyl group (-OH) and a carboxylic acid group (-COOH).
- The molecular formula of salicylic acid is C7H6O3.

### Step 2: Understand the Nitrating Mixture
The nitrating mixture typically consists of concentrated nitric acid (HNO3) and concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4). This mixture generates the nitronium ion (NO2+), which acts as the electrophile in the nitration reaction.

### Step 3: Analyze the Reactivity of Salicylic Acid
- The hydroxyl group (-OH) is an electron-donating group, which activates the benzene ring towards electrophilic substitution.
- The carboxylic acid group (-COOH) is an electron-withdrawing group, which deactivates the ring but is less influential than the hydroxyl group.

### Step 4: Determine the Position of Nitration
- Given that the hydroxyl group is ortho/para directing and the carboxylic acid group is meta directing, the overall effect of the hydroxyl group predominates.
- Therefore, the nitration will occur at the para position relative to the hydroxyl group.

### Step 5: Write the Final Product
The product formed from the nitration of salicylic acid will be para-nitrosalicylic acid. The structure will have a nitro group (-NO2) at the para position to the hydroxyl group.

### Final Answer
Salicylic acid on treatment with a nitrating mixture produces **para-nitrosalicylic acid**.

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