The amines topic in A-level Chemistry is a short organic chemistry section focused on what amines are,
how they are prepared, why they are basic, and how they react.
Core Ideas Usually Covered
Definition and structure: amines are compounds derived from ammonia in which hydrogen atoms are replaced by alkyl or aryl groups.
Preparation: from halogenoalkanes and ammonia, from reduction of nitriles, and for aromatic amines by reduction of nitro compounds.
Basicity: amines are weak bases because the nitrogen lone pair can accept a proton.
Reactions: with acids to form salts, with halogenoalkanes, and with acyl chlorides or acid anhydrides to form amides.
Mechanisms: nucleophilic substitution and nucleophilic addition-elimination.
Identification: some boards include recognition of N–H absorption in infrared spectra.
Board-by-Board Summary
AQA
Preparation of primary aliphatic amines from halogenoalkanes and nitriles.
Preparation of aromatic amines by reduction of nitro compounds.
Amines as weak bases.
Differences in base strength between ammonia, primary aliphatic amines, and primary aromatic amines.
Amines as nucleophiles.
Reactions with halogenoalkanes to form primary, secondary, tertiary amines and quaternary ammonium salts.
Reactions of ammonia and primary amines with acyl chlorides and acid anhydrides.
Mechanisms for nucleophilic substitution and nucleophilic addition-elimination.
Edexcel
Reactions of primary aliphatic amines using butylamine as the main example.
Reaction with water to form an alkaline solution.
Reaction with acids to form salts.
Reaction with ethanoyl chloride and halogenoalkanes.
Reaction with copper(II) ions to form complex ions.
Differences in basicity between ammonia, primary aliphatic amines, and primary aromatic amines.
Preparation from halogenoalkanes and by reduction of nitriles.
Reduction of aromatic nitro compounds using tin and concentrated hydrochloric acid.
Identification of amines by N–H stretching absorption in IR spectra.
OCR A
Basicity of amines in terms of proton acceptance by the nitrogen lone pair.
Reaction with dilute acids to form salts.
Preparation of aliphatic amines from haloalkanes using excess ethanolic ammonia and amines.
Preparation of aromatic amines by reduction of nitroarenes using tin and concentrated hydrochloric acid.
Related knowledge that nitriles can be reduced to form amines.
Comparison of basicity of different amines is not required.
Best Revision Checklist
Know what primary, secondary, and tertiary amines are.
Learn how amines are prepared from halogenoalkanes, nitriles, and nitro compounds.
Understand why amines are weak bases.
Revise how amines react with acids to form ammonium salts.
Revise nucleophilic reactions with halogenoalkanes and acyl chlorides.
Practise any required mechanisms and board-specific details.