Answer to Question #249525 in Organic Chemistry for Tracey

Question

A. Structure of Primary, Secondary, Tertiary amines.

1. Use your model kit to build the following structures. Sketch the structures and indicate whether they are primary, secondary or tertiary amines.

a. Methanamine

b. N,N-dimethylmethanamine

c. N,N,N-trimethylmethanamine

Answer 1

Amines are classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary according to the number of carbons bonded directly to the nitrogen atom. Primary amines have one carbon bonded to the nitrogen. Secondary amines have two carbons bonded to the nitrogen, and tertiary amines have three carbons bonded to the nitrogen.

Methanamine (primary)