Explain the action of dilute `HNO_(3)` on phenol (carbolic acid) .

Explanation

To explain the action of dilute HNO₃ (nitric acid) on phenol (carbolic acid), we can break down the reaction into several steps:

### Step 1: Understanding the Reactants
Phenol (C₆H₅OH) is an aromatic compound with a hydroxyl (-OH) group attached to a benzene ring. The -OH group is an electron-donating group, which increases the electron density on the benzene ring, making it more reactive towards electrophilic substitution reactions.

### Step 2: Reaction with Dilute HNO₃
When phenol is treated with dilute nitric acid, the -OH group activates the benzene ring towards electrophilic substitution. The nitric acid provides the nitronium ion (NO₂⁺), which is the active electrophile in this reaction.

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