Which of the following reagents will produce salicylaldehyde on reaction with phenol?

Identify the product $(A)$ obtained in the following reaction.
Phenol + concentrated $HNO_3$ $\xrightarrow[H_2SO_4]{\text{concentrated}}$ $A$

Phenol $\stackrel{X}{\longrightarrow}$ forms a tribromo derivative. "$X$" is

Give the conversion of phenol to salicylic acid.

The acidity of the following compounds follows the order:
$I$: Phenol
$II$: $p$-Methoxyphenol
$III$: $p$-Nitrophenol
$IV$: $m$-Nitrophenol

Given below are two statements:
Statement $I$: Phenol on treatment with $CHCl_3 / aq. KOH$ under refluxing condition, followed by acidification produces $p$-hydroxybenzaldehyde as the major product and $o$-hydroxybenzaldehyde as the minor product.
Statement $II$: The mixture of $p$-hydroxybenzaldehyde and $o$-hydroxybenzaldehyde can be easily separated through steam distillation.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below: