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Q.Give a chemical test for differentiating the following couple of compounds:

(i) Secondary and tertiary amines
(ii) Methyl amine and dimethyl amine
(iii) Ethylamine and aniline.
Uttar Pradesh UpmspUP Board (UPMSP) Intermediate 2023Subjective· 3mImportance★★★★★
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Use Hinsberg's reagent for 2∘2^\circ vs 3∘3^\circ; the carbylamine (isocyanide) test for a 1∘1^\circ vs 2∘2^\circ amine; and the diazotisation–coupling (azo-dye) test for an aromatic (anilineaniline) vs aliphatic (ethylamineethylamine) amine.

(i) Secondary vs tertiary amine (Hinsberg test): Treat with benzenesulphonyl chloride (C6H5SO2ClC_6H_5SO_2Cl).

  • A 2∘2^\circ amine gives a sulphonamide with no N–H, which is insoluble in KOH (a precipitate forms).
  • A 3∘3^\circ amine has no replaceable H and does not react. So a KOH-insoluble product ⇒2∘\Rightarrow 2^\circ; no reaction ⇒3∘\Rightarrow 3^\circ.

(ii) Methylamine (1∘1^\circ) vs dimethylamine (2∘2^\circ) — carbylamine test: Warm with CHCl3CHCl_3 and alcoholic KOHKOH.

CH3NH2+CHCl3+3KOH→CH3NC+3KCl+3H2OCH_3NH_2 + CHCl_3 + 3KOH \rightarrow CH_3NC + 3KCl + 3H_2O

Methylamine (a primary amine) gives methyl isocyanide, a foul-smelling product. Dimethylamine (secondary) gives no such smell — it does not respond to the carbylamine test.

(iii) Ethylamine vs aniline — azo-dye test: Add cold NaNO2+HClNaNO_2 + HCl (diazotisation), then alkaline β\beta-naphthol. …

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