Final answer:
Nitric acid (HNO3) is the incorrect reagent for the reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline as it is typically used for nitration, which adds nitro groups to benzene rings instead of removing them.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is about the incorrect reagent for the reduction of nitrobenzene to form aniline. Aniline is a benzene ring with an amino (NH₂) group, and its synthesis involves reducing the nitro group (NO₂) present in nitrobenzene. Reduction of aromatic nitro compounds generally results in the corresponding amines. For example, nitrobenzene (having a NO₂ group) when reduced, gives aniline (with an NH₂ group).
Among the list of reagents, nitric acid (HNO₃) is not the correct reagent for this process. In fact, nitric acid is commonly used in the nitration of benzene, which is the opposite of reduction, as it adds a nitro group to the benzene ring. Therefore, nitric acid would not be used to reduce nitrobenzene to aniline but rather could potentially introduce additional nitro groups to the benzene ring.