Chapter 16: Amines

These flashcards cover key concepts regarding amines as discussed in Chapter 16 of the lecture notes.

What is an amine?

An amine is a compound that has one or more organic groups bonded to nitrogen.

How many valence electrons does nitrogen have?

Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons.

What types of amines exist?

Amines can be primary (1°), secondary (2°), or tertiary (3°).

What prefix is used for two identical groups on nitrogen in 2º and 3º amines?

The prefix 'di-' is used for two identical groups and 'tri-' for three identical groups.

What is a primary alkyl amine?

A primary alkyl amine has one alkyl group attached to the nitrogen.

How do you convert an amine into an ammonium ion?

An amine becomes an ammonium ion when it gains a proton (H+).

What are amine salts?

Amine salts are ionic compounds composed of an ammonium cation and an anion.

Why do 1º and 2º amines have higher boiling points than 3º amines?

1º and 2º amines can hydrogen bond with themselves, whereas 3º amines cannot.

What is the pH and pKa relationship in amines?

If pH is lower than pKa, the amine is in the ammonium ion form; if pH is higher than pKa, it is in the neutral amine form.

What functional group defines an amine?

The –NH2 functional group is known as an amino group.

What occurs during the solubility switch in amines?

The solubility switch refers to the change in solubility of amines when their charge changes with pH.

Name a simple aromatic amine.

Aniline is the simplest aromatic amine.

What compounds do amines often react with to form salts?

Amines react with acids to form ammonium salts.

What chemical property do all amines share?

All amines can hydrogen bond with water molecules due to their nitrogen atoms.

What are alkaloids?

Alkaloids are naturally occurring, nitrogen-containing compounds extracted from plants, usually basic and physiologically active.

What is a quaternary ammonium salt?

A quaternary ammonium salt is an ionic compound formed from a quaternary ammonium ion, which has a permanent positive charge.

Give an example of a medicinal use of amines.

Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is an example of a medicinal amine.