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Question 66 of 69

Q.The compound that reacts with nitrous acid to give yellow oily liquid is ________.

(a) N-methylaniline
(b) Nitro benzene
(c) N,N-dimethyl aniline
(d) Aniline
Tamil Nadu DgeTamil Nadu HSC (DGE) Board 2025MCQ· 1mImportance★★★★★
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Nitrous acid reacts differently with the three classes of aromatic amines; only the secondary amine, N-methylaniline, gives the diagnostic yellow oily liquid (an N-nitrosamine) — this is a classic distinguishing test for 1°, 2°, and 3° amines.

Reaction of amines with HNO2HNO_2 (generated in situ from NaNO2+HClNaNO_2 + HCl, at 00–5°C5°C):

  • Primary aromatic amine (aniline, option d): forms a benzenediazonium chloride, C6H5N2+Cl−C_6H_5N_2^+Cl^-, a colourless/pale-yellow crystalline solid in cold solution — not an oily liquid.
  • Secondary aromatic amine (N-methylaniline, option a): the N-H hydrogen is replaced by the nitroso group (−N=O-N=O), giving N-methyl-N-nitrosoaniline, C6H5N(CH3)−N=OC_6H_5N(CH_3)-N=O — this N-nitrosamine is a characteristic yellow oily liquid. …

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