Question

Give reasons : 

(i) Electrophilic substitution in benzoic acid takes place at meta position. 

(ii) Carboxylic acids do not give the characteristic reactions of carbonyl group.

Answer 1

(i) Electrophilic substitution in benzoic acid takes place at meta-position. Due to resonance in benzoic acid, there is high electron density at meta-position. Therefore, electrophilic substitution in benzoic acid takes place at meta-position.

(ii) In carboxylic acid C = O is in resonance and not available for reaction.