Nitration is an example of aromatic electrophilic substitution, and its rate depends upon the group already present in the benzene ring. Out of benzene and phenol, which one is more easily nitrated and why?
The hydroxyl group present in phenol makes more nitrate. And because of the resonance of bond, it makes the benzene ring rich in electron density which further makes it feasible for electrophilic substitution reaction. This indicates that the nitration, also known as electrophilic substitution, takes place in compounds with high electron density.