Why does presence of a nitro group make the benzene ring less reactive in comparison to the unsubstituted benzene ring. Explain.
The benzene ring deactivated and the electron density decreased on the ortho and para positions as compared to the meta positions due to the presence of nitro group which has -I and -R effects.
The nitro group is an electron-withdrawing group (EWG) that pulls electron density towards itself through resonance and inductive effects. The nitro group decreases electron density on the ortho and para positions of the ring compared to the meta positions.