Rate of Nitration of Benzene with Mixed Acid

The rates of nitration of benzene by nitric acid in mixed acid to produce mononitrobenzene have been measured in well-emulsified reaction mixtures in the temperature range from 34’ to 54°C. The acid-phase compositions ranged from 1.6 mole % nitric acid and 27 mole % sulfuric acid to 35 mole % nitric acid and zero % sulfuric acid; the organicphase composition ranged from 4 to 95 mole ’ % benzene, and the relative extent of the acid and organic phases was varied from 25 to 80 volume ’ % acid phase. The reaction rate based on the total volume of the reacting mixture is shown to be a function of the phase compositions, temperature;and volume % of acid phase.