See image — Aromatic Hydrocarbons Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Step 1 - Identify the starting material: The starting material is toluene (methylbenzene), a benzene ring with a methyl group. Step 2 - Reaction with HNO3/H2SO4 (nitration): Nitration of toluene using HNO3/H2SO4 (mixed acid) introduces a nitro group (-NO2) onto the ring. The methyl group is an ortho/para director, so nitration predominantly gives a mixture of ortho- and para-nitrotoluene. The major product (A) considered here is para-nitrotoluene (4-nitrotoluene), which is the predominant isolable product. Step 3 - Reaction with Zn(Hg)/HCl (Clemmensen reduction): The Clemmensen reduction (Zn amalgam with HCl) reduces carbonyl groups (C=O) to CH2. However, in this context, Zn(Hg)/HCl acts on the nitro compound. Wait - re-evaluating: Zn(Hg)/HCl is specifically Clemmensen reduction for ketones/aldehydes to methylene. But if (A) is a nitrotoluene, Zn/HCl (not Zn(Hg)) would reduce NO2 to NH2. Step 4 - Re-examining the reaction: With Zn(Hg)/HCl applied to para-nitrotoluene (A), the nitro group (-NO2) is reduced to an amino group (-NH2), giving para-toluidine (4-methylaniline). But option (b) shows a benzene ring with CH2Me and NH2 groups, which corresponds to an ethyl-aminobenzene, not 4-methylaniline. Step 5 - Reconsidering: Looking at option (b) more carefully - it shows a benzene ring with CH2-Me (ethyl group) and NH2. If toluene is nitrated to give nitrotoluene (A = 4-nitrotoluene, with CH3 and NO2), then Zn(Hg)/HCl reduces NO2 to NH2, giving 4-methylaniline (4-aminotoluene). The CH2-Me in option (b) likely represents the -CH3 group drawn as CH2 connected to Me (which is just ethyl representation of methyl extended). Thus product B is 4-methylaniline (para-toluidine): benzene ring with methyl (shown as CH2-Me meaning -CH3) and -NH2 para to each other. Step 6 - Why other options fail: (a) still has a nitro group, so reduction has not occurred - incorrect. (c) shows an acetyl group with nitro, which would require oxidation not nitration of toluene - incorrect. (d) shows nitro group still present with an ethyl substituent - incorrect. Option (b) correctly shows the reduced amine product of nitrotoluene. Therefore, the correct answer is B.