Nitration of Acetanilide
Acetanilide is a derivative of aniline in which an acetyl group is attached to the nitrogen atom. When this compound is treated with nitric acid, it undergoes nitration reaction.

Reaction: Acetanilide + HNO3 → Nitroacetanilide + H2O

The nitration product of acetanilide is nitroacetanilide, which contains a nitro group (-NO2) attached to the benzene ring at the ortho position to the acetyl group.

Alkaline Hydrolysis of Nitroacetanilide
Nitroacetanilide can be converted into p-nitroaniline by alkaline hydrolysis. In this reaction, the nitro group is reduced to an amino group (-NH2) by the action of alkali, and the acetyl group is removed.

Reaction: Nitroacetanilide + NaOH → p-Nitroaniline + NaOAc + H2O

The main product of the reaction is p-nitroaniline, which contains a nitro group (-NO2) attached to the benzene ring at the para position to the amino group.

Explanation of Answer
The given question asks for the main product obtained when acetanilide is subjected to nitration followed by alkaline hydrolysis. Based on the reactions discussed above, it is clear that the main product obtained in this sequence of reactions is p-nitroaniline, which is option (b). The other options are incorrect because:

- Option (a) o-Nitroacetanilide is the direct product of nitration of acetanilide, but it is not the main product of the given sequence of reactions.
- Option (c) m-Nitroaniline is not formed in the given sequence of reactions because the nitro group is attached to the para position of the benzene ring in nitroacetanilide, and it is converted to p-nitroaniline by alkaline hydrolysis.
- Option (d) 2, 4, 6-Trinitroaniline is not formed in the given sequence of reactions because only one nitro group is introduced into acetanilide by nitration, and it is converted to p-nitroaniline by alkaline hydrolysis.

What is education