Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Benzene is nitrated to give nitrobenzene, which on further treatment with $\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{COCl} / \mathrm{AlCl}_{3}$ will give

Statement II: $-\mathrm{NO}_{2}$ group is a $m$-directing, and deactivating group.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below

Statement I: Benzene reacts with nitrating mixture ($conc. HNO_3 + conc. H_2SO_4$) to form nitrobenzene. However, nitrobenzene is highly deactivated due to the strong electron-withdrawing $-I$ and $-M$ effects of the $-NO_2$ group. Friedel-Crafts reactions (alkylation or acylation) do not occur on strongly deactivated rings like nitrobenzene. Thus, nitrobenzene will not react with $CH_3COCl/AlCl_3$ to give m-nitroacetophenone. Statement I is incorrect.

Statement II: The $-NO_2$ group is a meta-directing group because it withdraws electron density from the ortho and para positions more than from the meta position. It is also a deactivating group as it reduces the overall electron density of the benzene ring, making it less reactive towards electrophilic aromatic substitution. Statement II is correct.

Therefore, Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct.