Is nitrobenzene more reactive than benzoic acid for electrophilic substitution?

Yes, nitrobenzene is more reactive than benzoic acid for electrophilic substitution reactions. This is due to the electron-withdrawing nature of the nitro group (-NO2) present in nitrobenzene. The nitro group's strong electron-withdrawing effect deactivates the benzene ring towards electrophilic substitution reactions, making the ring more susceptible to attack by electrophiles.

In contrast, benzoic acid contains a carboxylic acid group (-COOH), which has a less pronounced electron-withdrawing effect compared to the nitro group. While the carboxylic acid group does deactivate the benzene ring to some extent, it is not as strong of a deactivating group as the nitro group. As a result, benzoic acid is generally less reactive towards electrophilic substitution reactions compared to nitrobenzene.

In summary, due to the stronger electron-withdrawing effect of the nitro group in nitrobenzene, it is more reactive towards electrophilic substitution reactions than benzoic acid.