The reaction between benzene and HNO3 in the presence of H2SO4 to form nitrobenzene is an example of electrophilic aromatic substitution. The mechanism for this reaction can be described in the following steps:1. Generation of the electrophile: Nitric acid HNO3 reacts with sulfuric acid H2SO4 to form the nitronium ion NO2+ , which is a strong electrophile. HNO3 + H2SO4 NO2+ + HSO4- + H2O2. Electrophilic attack: The electrophile, NO2+, attacks the benzene ring, which is rich in electron density due to the delocalized electrons. This results in the formation of a resonance-stabilized carbocation called the sigma complex or arenium ion.3. Deprotonation: A base, usually the bisulfate ion HSO4- formed in the first step, abstracts a proton from the sigma complex, restoring the aromaticity of the benzene ring and forming nitrobenzene as the final product.Overall, the reaction can be summarized as:Benzene + HNO3 in the presence of H2SO4 Nitrobenzene + H2O