What Is Primary Amine?

An amine is a type of compound containing nitrogen. A primary amine is an organic compound with a substitution for one hydrogen atom of ammonia (NH3).

Amine Definition

An amine is a compound in which a nitrogen atom is surrounded by three other atoms, or side chains (symbolized as R). The simplest amine is ammonia, with three hydrogen atoms around a nitrogen atom.

Primary Amines

A primary amine is essentially an ammonia molecule, except that exactly one of the three hydrogen atoms of ammonia is substituted. Primary amines have the formula NRH2.

Exception

An ammonia molecule in which one hydrogen atom is substituted by an acyl group (R-C=O) is called an amide. Amides and amines behave differently enough to be considered distinct by chemists.

Properties

Like ammonia, primary amines are basic. Other properties depend on the side chain.

Varieties

Methyl amines give decaying fish its characteristic odor. A primary amine side chain can also be a benzene ring, forming an aryl amine.

Amino Acids

Amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, are primary amines (made acidic by a carboxyl group). Some of the bases in DNA and RNA are primary amines.

References

• Farlex Free Dictionary: Amine
• "Amines: Structure and Synthesis"; Kirk McMichael's Organic Chemistry Pages; Washington State University