When chlorobenzene reacts with a hot solution of sulfuric and nitric acids, an interesting result occurs: the reaction is slower than the reaction of the solution with benzene – which is similar to the result of the reaction of the solution with nitrobenzene – but it generates products with the same substitution pattern seen in the reaction of the solution with phenol. Explain why chlorobenzene has this curious reactivity.

Imagine that phenol (“hydroxybenzene”) and nitrobenzene are reacted (in separate beakers) with a hot solution containing both concentrated sulfuric acid and concentrated nitric acid.

A) When chlorobenzene reacts with a hot solution of sulfuric and nitric acids, an interesting result occurs: the reaction is slower than the reaction of the solution with benzene – which is similar to the result of the reaction of the solution with nitrobenzene – but it generates products with the same substitution pattern seen in the reaction of the solution with phenol. Explain why chlorobenzene has this curious reactivity.