1. In an electrophilic aromatic substitution reaction, does the aromatic ring act as an electrophile or a nucleophile? Illustrate your answer by showing the first step in electrophilic aromatic substitution using a mechanism. Represent the electrophile as a generic cation "E⁺".

2. Substituents on an aromatic ring can alter both the stereoselectivity and reactivity of an electrophilic aromatic substitution. Describe and explain "activating" and "deactivating" substituents, in addition to mentioning the positions strongly affected on the aromatic ring by such substituents. Provide one example of an activating substituent and one example of a deactivating substituent.

3. Illustrate using resonance structures how a moderate, to strong, electron-donating group (e.g. -OR, -NRR', etc.) increases the nucleophilicty of particular sites on an aromatic ring (before the addition of an electrophile).