What is the main product when an amine reacts with an alkyl halide?
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the main product when an amine reacts with an alkyl halide?
Amide
Quaternary ammonium salt
Alcohol
Ester
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the main product when an amine reacts with an alkyl halide?
Step 1: Understand what an amine is. An amine is a compound that contains a nitrogen atom bonded to hydrogen atoms or carbon atoms.
Step 2: Understand what an alkyl halide is. An alkyl halide is a compound that contains a carbon chain (alkyl group) bonded to a halogen atom (like chlorine, bromine, or iodine).
Step 3: When an amine reacts with an alkyl halide, the nitrogen atom in the amine can bond with the carbon atom of the alkyl halide.
Step 4: This reaction forms a new compound called an alkylammonium salt, where the nitrogen atom now has four bonds (three to hydrogen or carbon and one to the alkyl group).
Step 5: If there are still available hydrogen atoms on the nitrogen, the alkylammonium salt can react with more alkyl halide to form a quaternary ammonium salt.
Step 6: A quaternary ammonium salt has a nitrogen atom bonded to four carbon groups and carries a positive charge.