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Ch.14 Carboxylic Acids, Esters, Amines, and Amides
Timberlake - Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry 14th Edition
Timberlake14thChemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9781292472249Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 14, Problem 38b

Using condensed structural formulas, or line-angle formulas if cyclic, write the balanced chemical equations for the (1) reaction of each of the following amines with water and (2) neutralization with HBr:
b. propylamine

Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Identify the structure of propylamine. Propylamine is a primary amine with the condensed structural formula CH3CH2CH2NH2. It consists of a three-carbon chain (propyl group) attached to an amino group (-NH2).
Step 2: Write the reaction of propylamine with water. Amines act as weak bases and react with water to form their conjugate acid and hydroxide ions. The reaction can be represented as: CH3CH2CH2NH2 + H2O → CH3CH2CH2NH3⁺ + OH⁻.
Step 3: Balance the chemical equation for the reaction with water. Ensure that the number of atoms on both sides of the equation is equal. In this case, the equation is already balanced as written.
Step 4: Write the neutralization reaction of propylamine with HBr. Amines react with acids like HBr to form their corresponding ammonium salts. The reaction can be represented as: CH3CH2CH2NH2 + HBr → CH3CH2CH2NH3⁺Br⁻.
Step 5: Balance the chemical equation for the neutralization reaction. Verify that the number of atoms and charges are balanced on both sides of the equation. The equation is balanced as written.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Condensed Structural Formulas

Condensed structural formulas provide a simplified representation of a molecule, showing the arrangement of atoms and the connectivity between them without depicting all the bonds explicitly. For example, propylamine can be represented as CH3CH2CH2NH2, indicating its linear structure and functional group. Understanding these formulas is essential for writing chemical equations accurately.
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Neutralization Reaction

A neutralization reaction occurs when an acid reacts with a base to produce water and a salt. In this context, propylamine, a weak base, reacts with hydrobromic acid (HBr), a strong acid, to form propylammonium bromide and water. Recognizing the products of such reactions is crucial for balancing chemical equations.
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Line-Angle Formulas

Line-angle formulas, also known as skeletal formulas, are a shorthand representation of organic molecules where vertices represent carbon atoms and lines represent bonds. This method is particularly useful for cyclic compounds and simplifies the visualization of complex structures. Familiarity with line-angle formulas is important for accurately depicting the structure of amines and their reactions.
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