Organic Nitrogen Compounds
Amines
- There are three organic nitrogen families that you need to know: amines, amides and nitriles
- Amine is the name given to compounds containing the functional group amino, -NH2
- Amines are derived from ammonia where one H in ammonia (NH3)has been replaced by an R (alkyl) group
- The general formula of an amine is CnH2n+1NH2 which can be shortened to just RNH2
Amides
- Amide is the name given to compounds containing the functional group carboxamide, -CONH2
- Amides are a combination of amino and carbonyl groups
- The general formula of an amide is CnH2n+1CONH2 which can be shortened to just RCONH2
Nitriles
- Nitriles are compounds containing the functional group nitrile, -CN
- This is the same CN group that is called a cyanide group as an ion, just as hydroxyl group, OH is called hydroxide in inorganic chemistry
- The general formula of an nitrile is CnH2n+1CN which can be shortened to just RCN
Organic Nitrogen Compounds Examples
Exam Tip
Be careful about counting all the carbons when naming a nitrile. For example C3H7CN is butanenitrile not propanenitrile as the longest chain is 4 carbons.
You are not required to know the nomenclature of these nitrogen compounds, but you are expected to identify the functional groups in molecules.