Step 1: Understand what amines are. Amines are organic compounds that contain a nitrogen atom bonded to one or more carbon atoms.
Step 2: Identify the structure of nitrogen in amines. Nitrogen typically has three bonds to carbon atoms and one lone pair of electrons.
Step 3: Recall the concept of hybridization. Hybridization is the mixing of atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals.
Step 4: Determine the number of regions of electron density around the nitrogen atom. In amines, there are three bonds (to carbon) and one lone pair, making a total of four regions.
Step 5: Identify the type of hybridization based on the number of regions. Four regions of electron density correspond to sp3 hybridization.
Step 6: Conclude that nitrogen in amines is sp3 hybridized because it has three substituents (bonds to carbon) and one lone pair.
