Nitration of Benzene Use sulfuric acid with nitric acid to form the nitronium ion electrophile. H H HSO4 0 ,0+ N NO2*then forms a sigma complex with benzene,loses H+to form nitrobenzene.= Chapter 17 8 Chapter 17 8 Nitration of Benzene Use sulfuric acid with nitric acid to form the nitronium ion electrophile. H O N O O H O S O H O O + HSO4 _ H O N H O O + H O N H O O + H2O + N O O + NO2 + then forms a sigma complex with benzene, loses H+ to form nitrobenzene. =>