Question

C. Amide Hydrolysis

1. Using structural formulas, write a balanced equation for the reaction of acetamide

with aqueous HCl. Indicate which of the products might be a volatile acid or

volatile base.

2. Using structural formulas, draw a balanced equation for the reaction of

acetamide with aqueous NaOH. Indicate which of the products might be a

volatile acid or volatile base.

3. Red litmus paper turns blue when exposed to a base, but remains red when exposed to an acid. Use the answers to questions 1 and 2 to explain whether you think the litmus paper will change from red to blue if placed above a reaction

where it is exposed to the volatile products of the reaction.

a. Reaction with aqueous HCl:

b. Reaction with aquous NaOH:

Answer 1

$H_ 3 C − C O_ 2 N H_ 2 ( a q ) + N a O H ( a q ) → H_ 3 C − C O − 2 N a + + N H_ 3 ( a q )$

a) Reaction with aqueous HCl: red litmus paper remains red 

b) Reaction with aquous NaOH: Red litmus paper turns blue