MCQEasyJEE 2026Diazonium Salts & Reactions

JEE Chemistry 2026 Question with Solution

The correct stability order of the following diazonium salts is:

Four benzene diazonium chloride structures labeled A, B, C and D with para substituents OCH3, NO2, H and CN respectively.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

  • A

    A >> C >> D >> B

  • B

    A >> B >> C >> D

  • C

    C >> D >> B >> A

  • D

    C >> A >> D >> B

Answer

Correct answer:A

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: Four aryl diazonium salts A, B, C, D are shown.

Find: The correct stability order.

Step 1: Basic stability rule for diazonium salts. Aryl diazonium salts are stabilized by electron donating groups on the benzene ring and destabilized by strong electron withdrawing groups.

Step 2: Effect of substituents.

  • (A) OCH3-OCH_3: Strong +M+M electron donating effect, stabilizes the diazonium ion greatly.
  • (C) HH: No substituent effect, moderate stability.
  • (D) CN-CN: Strong M-M effect, reduces stability.
  • (B) NO2-NO_2: Very strong M-M and I-I effects, maximum destabilization.

Step 3: Ordering stability.

A (most stable)>C>D>B (least stable)\text{A (most stable)} > \text{C} > \text{D} > \text{B (least stable)}

Step 4: Final conclusion. Therefore, the correct stability order is A >> C >> D >> B. The correct option is A.

Substituent Effect Comparison

Given: Stability depends on how the substituent affects the aryl diazonium ion.

Find: Which sequence matches the relative stabilizing and destabilizing effects.

Electron donation by resonance increases stability, while electron withdrawal by resonance and induction decreases it. Therefore:

  • OCH3-OCH_3 donates by resonance strongly, so A is most stable.
  • Unsubstituted benzene diazonium salt C has no special stabilization or destabilization.
  • CN-CN withdraws electrons, so D is less stable than C.
  • NO2-NO_2 is the strongest withdrawing group here, so B is least stable.

Thus the order is:

A>C>D>B\text{A} > \text{C} > \text{D} > \text{B}

So the correct option is A.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming all electron withdrawing groups reduce stability equally is incorrect because NO2-NO_2 withdraws more strongly than CN-CN. Compare the relative M-M and I-I effects before ordering.

  • Placing OCH3-OCH_3 lower in stability is wrong because its resonance donation stabilizes the diazonium ion. Remember that strong electron donating groups increase aryl diazonium stability.

  • Treating C and D as equally stable is incorrect. The unsubstituted case C has no destabilizing substituent, whereas CN-CN in D withdraws electron density and lowers stability.

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