Halogen atoms on a benzene ring...(Free Answer)

Halogens on Benzene Ring – EAS Behavior

🔬 Halogens on a Benzene Ring

Halogens (like F, Cl, Br, I) have unique behavior in electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) reactions due to their mixed electronic effects:

Inductive Effect: Halogens are electronegative and withdraw electrons through sigma bonds (−I), making the ring less reactive (deactivating).
Resonance Effect: They can donate lone pairs via resonance (+R), stabilizing the ortho and para positions.

Deactivating Group: Due to their electron-withdrawing nature, halogens reduce the overall reactivity of the ring toward electrophiles.
Ortho/Para Director: Despite deactivation, halogens direct incoming electrophiles to the ortho and para positions via resonance stabilization.

✅ Halogens are deactivating and ortho/para directing groups.

✘ Meta directors — halogens are not meta directors.

✘ Activating groups — halogens decrease ring reactivity, not increase it.

Two of these

Halogens are both deactivating and ortho/para directors.