Which of These Is the Rate-Determining Step in the Nitration

Multiple Choice

Which of these is the rate-determining step in the nitration of benzene?

A) Protonation of nitric acid by sulfuric acid
B) Protonation of sulfuric acid by nitric acid
C) Loss of a water molecule by the protonated species to produce the nitronium ion
D) Addition of the nitronium to benzene to produce the arenium ion
E) Loss of a proton by the arenium ion to form nitrobenzene