JEE Main 2026 — Amines Question with Solution

Statement I describes the Hoffmann bromamide degradation reaction. When benzamide ($C_6{H}_{5}CON{H}_2$) is heated with bromine in an ethanolic solution of sodium hydroxide, it produces aniline ($C_6{H}_{5}N{H}_2$), not benzylamine. Thus, Statement I is false.

Statement II describes the nitration of aniline. Direct nitration of aniline with $HN{O}_3/H_{2}S{O}_4$ yields a mixture of $p$-nitroaniline ($51\%$), $m$-nitroaniline ($47\%$), and $o$-nitroaniline ($2\%$). The significant formation of the meta derivative is due to the protonation of aniline in the strongly acidic medium to form the anilinium ion, which is meta-directing. Since $47\%>2\%$, $m$-nitroaniline is produced in a higher amount than $o$-nitroaniline. Thus, Statement II is true.

Answer: Statement I is false but Statement II is true