3.7.2

Basicity & Nucleophilicity

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Basicity and Nucleophilicity

Amines display both basic and nucleophilic behaviour. We also will look at quaternary ammonium salts.

Basicity

Basicity

  • Amines contain a lone pair of electrons. This makes the amine attracted to positive charge and, in particular, to protons.
    • This gives them the basic property of being able to accept protons - as shown above.
Nucleophilicty

Nucleophilicty

  • The lone pair on the nitrogen also makes amines nucleophilic.
    • It is attracted to positive charge.
    • They react with halogenoalkanes, acyl chlorides and acid anhydrides in nucleophilic reactions.
Quaternary ammonium salts

Quaternary ammonium salts

  • Quaternary ammonium salts can be used as cationic surfactants.
  • Surfactants lower the surface tension of a liquid.
    • They can act as detergents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, foaming agents, and dispersants.
  • The cationic surfactant has a hydrophilic head, which is able to interact with water, and a hydrophobic tail, which interacts with organic matter such as oils or fats.
Jump to other topics
1

Physical Chemistry

1.1

Atoms, Molecules & Stoichiometry

1.2

Atomic Structure

1.3

Chemical Bonding

1.4

States of Matter

1.5

Chemical Energetics

1.6

Electrochemistry

1.7

Equilibria

1.8

Partition Coefficient

1.9

Reaction Kinetics

2

Inorganic Chemistry

3

Organic Chemistry & Analysis

3.1

Introduction to Organic Chemistry

3.2

Hydrocarbons

3.3

Halogen Derivatives

3.4

Hydroxy Compounds

3.5

Carbonyl Compounds

3.6

Carboxylic Acids & Derivatives

3.7

Nitrogen Compounds

3.8

Polymerisation

3.9

Analytical Techniques

3.10

Organic Synthesis

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