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Question 43

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The order of basicity of the compounds is

Solution

The four given bases are assumed to be
Case I: $$(CH_3)_2NH$$ (dimethylamine : a 2° aliphatic amine)
Case II: $$(CH_3)_3N$$ (trimethylamine : a 3° aliphatic amine)
Case III: $$CH_3NH_2$$ (methylamine : a 1° aliphatic amine)
Case IV: $$C_6H_5NH_2$$ (aniline : an aromatic amine)

Basicity of an amine in aqueous medium is governed mainly by two factors.

1. +I (electron-releasing) effect of alkyl groups
   More alkyl groups push electron density toward the N-lone pair, increasing its availability for protonation.

2. Stabilisation of the conjugate acid by hydrogen bonding with water (solvation effect)
   The conjugate acid $$R_3NH^+$$ must be well solvated. This requires N-H bonds that can form hydrogen bonds with water. Fewer N-H bonds mean poorer solvation and hence lower basicity.

Evaluating each compound

Case I - dimethylamine, $$(CH_3)_2NH$$
   Has two +I donating CH₃ groups and still possesses one N-H bond for effective solvation. Hence it is the most basic of the set.

Case III - methylamine, $$CH_3NH_2$$
   Only one +I group, but two N-H bonds give excellent solvation. It is slightly less basic than the 2° amine.

Case II - trimethylamine, $$(CH_3)_3N$$
   Although it has three +I groups, it has no N-H bond, so its conjugate acid is poorly solvated. Consequently its basicity falls below that of the 1° amine.

Case IV - aniline, $$C_6H_5NH_2$$
   The lone pair on N participates in resonance with the benzene ring:
$$C_6H_5NH_2 \;\rightleftharpoons\; C_6H_5{-}NH_2^{+} \,\, \text{(resonance forms)}$$
Delocalisation reduces electron density on N, making it the least basic.

Collecting the results:
$$\text{Basicity:} \; (CH_3)_2NH \; \gt \; CH_3NH_2 \; \gt \; (CH_3)_3N \; \gt \; C_6H_5NH_2$$

That matches
Option B which is: I > III > II > IV.

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