Question:medium

Method used for separation of mixture of products (B and C) obtained in the following reaction is: 

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Ortho-substituted aromatic compounds are often steam volatile due to weaker intermolecular interactions.
Updated On: Jun 6, 2026
  • Simple distillation
  • Sublimation
  • Fractional distillation
  • Steam distillation
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This involves identify the isomers formed during the nitration of bromobenzene and the standard physical method to separate ortho and para isomers.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Reaction A: Benzene reacts with \(Br_2/FeBr_3\) (Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution) to form Bromobenzene (A).
2. Reaction B+C: Bromobenzene is \(o,p\)-directing. Nitration (\(HNO_3/H_2SO_4\)) of bromobenzene yields a mixture of {o}-nitrobromobenzene (B) and {p}-nitrobromobenzene (C).
3. Separation: Ortho and para isomers differ in their molecular symmetry and volatility. Ortho-substituted isomers often have lower melting points and higher steam volatility compared to their para counterparts (due to differences in packing and potential intramolecular/intermolecular interactions). Steam distillation is the standard laboratory technique used to separate these isomers based on their difference in steam volatility.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The method used is steam distillation.
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