During aromatic nitration, which product is typically formed?

The product typically formed during aromatic nitration is nitrobenzene. This reaction involves the substitution of a hydrogen atom on an aromatic ring with a nitro group (-NO2), which is introduced using a nitrating mixture, usually comprised of concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid.

In the presence of this nitrating agent, the electrophilic aromatic substitution occurs, where the nitronium ion (NO2+) generated from the acids acts as the electrophile. The aromatic ring's electron-rich character facilitates the attack on this electrophile, leading to the formation of nitrobenzene as the major product.

Other options do not represent the products formed in aromatic nitration. Alkenes and alkanes are products of different types of reactions, such as addition or hydrogenation, respectively. An azo compound, on the other hand, results from a completely different reaction involving diazotization followed by coupling with another aromatic system. Hence, nitrobenzene is the correct answer detailing the result of aromatic nitration.