Methylbenzene reacts with a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid - AQA - A-Level Chemistry - Question 20 - 2019 - Paper 3

The mechanism for the reaction of methylbenzene with concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid is called Electrophilic substitution. This type of mechanism involves an electrophile attacking the electron-rich aromatic ring, resulting in the substitution of a hydrogen atom on the benzene ring by a nitro group. The presence of the methyl group directs the electrophilic attack to the ortho and para positions due to its electron-donating effects.