How do primary amines act as #"Bronsted-Lowry bases"# in aqueous solution?

1 Answer
anor277
May 1, 2017

An #"RNH"_2# becomes #"protonated"#, and the nitrogen centre becomes #"quaternized"#...

Explanation:

All amines, and ammonia behave as Bronsted bases in water, and we can represent their acid base reaction with the following equation:

#"RNH"_2"(aq)" + "H"_2"O(l)" rightleftharpoons "RNH"_3^(+) + ""^(-)"OH"#.

Likewise,

#"RNH"_2"(aq)" + "HX(aq)" rightleftharpoons "RNH"_3^(+) + "X"^-#.

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