The correct order of reactivity of following haloarenes towards nucleophilic substitution with aqueous NaOH is :
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Solution

Chemistry ma’am · 3 steps

Nucleophilic attack makes the ring negative, so whatever pulls that charge away speeds it up.

1. How the reaction runs. OH⁻ adds to the carbon carrying Cl to give a negatively charged intermediate, the Meisenheimer complex. Then Cl⁻ leaves. The more stable this carbanion, the faster the substitution.
2. Role of substituents. A -NO₂ group at the ortho or para position takes the negative charge onto its own oxygens by resonance, so it stabilises the carbanion. More such groups give more stabilisation. -OCH₃ pushes electrons into the ring by +R, which piles more charge onto the carbanion and destabilises it.

   Haloarene	Group at ortho or para	Effect on the carbanion	Reactivity
   D (2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene)	three -NO₂	strongly stabilised	highest, reacts even with warm water
   B (2-nitrochlorobenzene)	one -NO₂	stabilised	second, needs NaOH at about 443 K
   A (chlorobenzene)	none	no help	third, needs 623 K and 300 atm
   C (2-chloroanisole)	-OCH₃, electron donor	destabilised	lowest

3. So. The order is D > B > A > C, which is option (b).

The idea to keep. For nucleophilic substitution on a haloarene, electron-withdrawing groups at ortho or para speed it up and electron-donating groups slow it down. This is the opposite of electrophilic substitution.

Answer from the NTA final answer key. Solution by PrepWiser.