Why is ethylamine basic?

1 Answer
anor277
Dec 31, 2015

Because there is a formal lone pair on the nitrogen atom that can bind to a proton.

Explanation:

#H_3C-CH_2NH_2 + H_2O rarr H_3C-CH_2NH_3^(+) + OH^-#

This equation has preserved mass and charge (as it must), and it represents the base behaviour of the amine molecule. The lone pair on nitrogen is conceived to donate to H^(+) to form a coordinate covalent bond.

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