CIE A Level Chemistry

Revision Notes

Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2020

Last exams 2024

|

3.7.1 Primary Amines

Test Yourself

Production of Amines

  • Amines are compounds with the amine (-NH2) functional group 
  • They can be produced as a result of nucleophilic substitution reactions of halogenoalkanes when they are heated under pressure with ethanolic ammonia (NH3 in ethanol)
  • The halogen atom in halogenoalkanes is more electronegative than the carbon atom it is bonded to
  • The halogen, therefore, draws electron density from the C-X bond (where X is the halogen) towards itself
  • The carbon, therefore, has a partial positive charge and the halogen itself has a partial negative charge  
  • The lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom (in NH3) acts as a nucleophile and attacks the partial positively charged carbon 
  • As a result of this nucleophilic attack, the C-X bond is broken and the halogen is substituted by an amine group

Amine replaces the halogen in halogenoalkanes in a nucleophilic substitution reaction

You've read 0 of your 0 free revision notes

Get unlimited access

to absolutely everything:

  • Downloadable PDFs
  • Unlimited Revision Notes
  • Topic Questions
  • Past Papers
  • Model Answers
  • Videos (Maths and Science)

Join the 80,663 Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

Did this page help you?

Francesca

Author: Francesca

Fran studied for a BSc in Chemistry with Forensic Science, and since graduating taught A level Chemistry in the UK for over 11 years. She studied for an MBA in Senior Leadership, and has held a number of roles during her time in Education, including Head of Chemistry, Head of Science and most recently as an Assistant Headteacher. In this role, she used her passion for education to drive improvement and success for staff and students across a number of subjects in addition to Science, supporting them to achieve their full potential. Fran has co-written Science textbooks, delivered CPD for teachers, and worked as an examiner for a number of UK exam boards.