(Solved): In this experiment you will be performing a nitration of methyl benzoate. Nitric acid, when heated, ...

In this experiment you will be performing a nitration of methyl benzoate. Nitric acid, when heated, is a good oxidizing agent which can form a nitronium ion without the addition of sulfuric acid. However, the rate of nitration is increased in the presence of sulfuric acid due to the increased concentration of the nitronium ion, the electrophile. \[ \begin{aligned} 2 \mathrm{HNO}_{3} & \longrightarrow \mathrm{NO}_{2}^{-}+\mathrm{NO}_{3}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} \\ 2 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}+\mathrm{HNO}_{3} & \longrightarrow \mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{O}^{-}+2 \mathrm{HSO}_{4}+\mathrm{N}_{4} \end{aligned} \] 1. Complete the following table: 2. What is the theoretical yield for this reaction?