Identify the product when ethylbenzene reacts with dil nitric acid.

Step-by-step solution

Ethylbenzene undergoes electrophilic aromatic substitution with dilute nitric acid. The ethyl group is an activating ortho-para director. The nitronium ion ( NO₂+ ) attacks primarily at the para position due to reduced steric hindrance. The product is p -nitroethylbenzene.