Question

Who discovered in 1854 that nitro compounds could be reduced in the presence of iron and acetic acid?

(a) Perkin’s

(b) Bechamp’s

(c) Cara’s acid

(d) None of the mentioned

I had been asked this question in unit test.

I'm obligated to ask this question of Methods of Reduction topic in division Amination by Reduction of Unit Processes

Answer 1

Right answer is (b) Bechamp’s

For explanation: Bechamp’s discovery in 1854 that nitro compounds could be reduced in the presence of iron and acetic acid and Perkin’s subsequent application in 1857 of the reaction in the commercial production of aniline were events of great significance in the development of the dye industry, and thus in the birth of industrial synthetic organic chemistry.