Unit 14 - Applications of Organic Chemistry
Assignment 1 - Functional group chemistry for designer molecules.
Amines
The hydrogen atoms in ammonia are replaced one by one by hydrocarbon groups in amines.
Depending on how many hydrogen atoms are swapped, amines are classified into distinct groups.
Primary Amines
Primary amines are one of the amine classes, and in this class, only one of the hydrogen atoms in the
ammonia molecule has been substituted, resulting in the formula RNH2, where the "R" stands for an
alkyl group. An example of this is shown below,
Secondary Amines
Secondary amines are another type of amine in which two of the hydrogens in an ammonia
molecule have been replaced with hydrocarbon groups. For example:
Tertiary Amines
Tertiary amines are the last group of amines, and in this group, all of the hydrogens have been
replaced by hydrocarbon groups, so you'll only come across simple ones with all three hydrocarbon
groups being alkyl groups, so they'll all be the same. Nevertheless, the names are similar to
secondary amines; for example,
Using Amines as bases
A base is:
• A substance which combines with hydrogen ions, this is the Bronsted-Lowry theory.
• An electron pair donor; this is the Lewis theory.
If Bronsted-Lowry theory is used then, the base is a hydrogen ion acceptor.
Reaction of Amines in Acids