Identify the product obtained when toluene reacts with chlorine in the presence of FeCl ₃ .

Step-by-step solution

Toluene reacts with chlorine in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst like FeCl ₃ to undergo electrophilic aromatic substitution. The methyl group ( -CH₃ ) attached to the benzene ring is an electron-donating group through hyperconjugation and inductive effect, making it an ortho, para-directing group. Therefore, the incoming electrophile ( Cl^+ ) attacks the ortho and para positions, resulting in the formation of a mixture of o-chlorotoluene and p-chlorotoluene. Answer: o-Chlorotoluene and p-Chlorotoluene