Acetamide and ethylamine can be distinguishedby reacting with [1994]a)...
Acetamide and ethylamine can be
distinguished by heating with NaOH
solution. Acetamide evolves NH3 but
ethylamine does not.
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Acetamide and ethylamine can be distinguishedby reacting with [1994]a)...
Distinguishing Acetamide and Ethylamine through Aqueous NaOH and Heat
Acetamide and Ethylamine can be distinguished through a reaction with Aqueous NaOH and heat. Let's understand the process in detail.
Reaction:
Acetamide + NaOH → No reaction
Ethylamine + NaOH → Ethylamine salt + H2O
Explanation:
Acetamide is an amide that does not have a basic character. When it is treated with NaOH, no reaction takes place. On the other hand, Ethylamine is an amine that has a basic character. When it is treated with NaOH, it forms an Ethylamine salt and water.
The Ethylamine salt formed in the reaction is water-soluble, while Ethylamine is not. Therefore, after the reaction, Ethylamine salt can be separated from water by filtration, whereas Acetamide cannot be separated as it does not undergo any reaction with NaOH.
Conclusion:
By performing the above reaction, we can distinguish between Acetamide and Ethylamine. If the given substance forms an insoluble residue after treatment with NaOH and heating, it is Acetamide, and if it forms a soluble salt, it is Ethylamine.