15.4 Nitration of benzene Benzene reacts slowly with hot concentrated nitric acid to yield nitrobenzene, The reaction is much faster if it is carried out by heating benzene with a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid NO. H2SO4 2 + hNO H3o t hso 50-550C15.4 Nitration of benzene Benzene reacts slowly with hot concentrated nitric acid to yield nitrobenzene. The reaction is much faster if it is carried out by heating benzene with a mixture of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid + HNO3 H NO2 2 SO4 85% 50-55 o C + H3O + + HSO4 -