Statement I: Benzene reacts with nitrating mixture (conc.HNO3+conc.H2SO4) to form nitrobenzene. However, nitrobenzene is highly deactivated due to the strong electron-withdrawing −I and −M effects of the −NO2 group. Friedel-Crafts reactions (alkylation or acylation) do not occur on strongly deactivated rings like nitrobenzene. Thus, nitrobenzene will not react with CH3COCl/AlCl3 to give m-nitroacetophenone. Statement I is incorrect.
Statement II: The −NO2 group is a meta-directing group because it withdraws electron density from the ortho and para positions more than from the meta position. It is also a deactivating group as it reduces the overall electron density of the benzene ring, making it less reactive towards electrophilic aromatic substitution. Statement II is correct.
Therefore, Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct.
