Step-by-step explanation:
When benzene (C6H6) is heated with concentrated sulfuric acid (H2SO4) at 250°C, it undergoes a reaction known as sulfonation. Sulfonation involves the substitution of a hydrogen atom in the benzene ring with a sulfonic group (SO3H). The reaction can be represented as follows:
C6H6 + H2SO4 → C6H5SO3H + H2O
In this reaction, a molecule of benzene reacts with a molecule of sulfuric acid to form benzenesulfonic acid and water as a byproduct. This reaction is used in the production of various organic compounds and is an important step in the synthesis of chemicals like detergents and dyes.