Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Toluene undergoes electrophilic aromatic substitution faster than benzene. Reason (R): The methyl group in toluene increases the electron density in the benzene ring predominantly through its +I (inductive) effect, which outweighs the hyperconjugation effect. In the light of the above statements, c

Step-by-step solution

Assertion (A) is true: Toluene has a methyl group attached to the benzene ring, which acts as an electron-donating group. This increases the electron density on the ring, making it more reactive towards electrophilic aromatic substitution than benzene. Reason (R) is false: The methyl group exerts both a +I (inductive) effect and a hyperconjugation effect. However, hyperconjugation (a permanent delocalisation of -electrons into the -system) is a stronger effect than the inductive effect and is predominantly responsi