Question

Is an amine formed when one or more nitrogen atoms from the ammonia molecule are replaced by an alkyl group?

Answer 1

An ALKYLAMINE is formed when 1 or more hydrogens of the ammonia is replaced by an alkyl group.

Explanation:

The ammonia molecule is `NH_3`; it has only 1 nitrogen atom. Each hydrogen can be replaced by a hydrocarbyl group to give for instance, methylamine. `H_2NMe`, or phenylamine, `H_2NPh`. Trialkylamines, e.g `NMe_3`, or `NEt_3` are also very common.

The nitrogen atom can become quaternized to give quaternary ammonium salts such as `NMe_4^+`, where the nitrogen centre has a formal positive charge, and there is a negative counterion. Their formation can be represented by the following reaction:

`R'Cl + NR_3 rarr R_3R'N^+Cl^-`

These are analogues of ammonium chloride, `NH_4Cl`, an ammonium salt.