Which of the following functional groups will activate a benzene ring towards electrophilic aromatic — GOC and Organic Chemistry Basics Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Ring-activating groups donate electron density, making the ring more nucleophilic. Groups like $-NH_2$, $-OH$, and $-NHCOCH_3$ have lone pairs on the atom directly attached to the ring, allowing them to donate electrons via resonance ($+M$ effect). The sulfonic acid group ($-SO_3H$) is strongly electron-withdrawing ($-M$) and deactivates the ring.