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Polymers and Life

Basicity of amines

  • 3 things to know
  • Components 01, 02 and 03

Overview

Recall questions on why the nitrogen lone pair makes an amine basic, the salt formed with an acid, and the smell and solubility of short-chain amines.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Numbers

What is the primary amine functional group, why is it basic, and what forms when it accepts a proton?

Key term

What is seen when a volatile amine meets hydrogen chloride fumes, why do short-chain amines dissolve well in water, and why is the amino group of an amino acid protonated at low pH?

Key term

Why is an amide much less basic than an amine?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Give the formula of the primary amine functional group.

    Model answer

    The primary amine group is –NH₂.

  2. 2

    Why is the amino group basic?

    Model answer

    The nitrogen atom has a lone pair of electrons that can be donated to a proton, so the group accepts H⁺.

  3. 3

    What is formed when an amine accepts a proton?

    Model answer

    A positively charged alkylammonium cation, RNH₃⁺.

  4. 4

    Which orbital on nitrogen holds the electron pair that is donated?

    Model answer

    The fourth orbital in the roughly tetrahedral arrangement around the nitrogen, holding the pair left over once the three bonds have been formed.

  5. 5

    Write an equation for methylamine reacting with water.

    Model answer

    CH₃NH₂ + H₂O ⇌ CH₃NH₃⁺ + OH⁻.

  6. 6

    Why is a solution of an amine in water alkaline?

    Model answer

    The amine takes a proton from water, leaving hydroxide ions in solution.

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