Which of the following compounds is the most basic?
A - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 3 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 3
Which of the following compounds is the most basic?
A. Ethane
B. Ethanol
C. Ethanamine
D. Ethyl ethanoate
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Which of the following compounds is the most basic?
A - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 3 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
Identify the Compounds
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Answer
The compounds listed in the options are:
Ethane: a simple alkane.
Ethanol: an alcohol with a hydroxyl group (-OH).
Ethanamine: an amine with a primary amino group (-NH2).
Ethyl ethanoate: an ester.
Step 2
Determine Basicity of Each Compound
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Answer
To find which compound is the most basic, we need to consider the ability of each compound to donate a lone pair of electrons:
Ethane: It is not basic because it lacks a functional group that can donate electrons.
Ethanol: The hydroxyl group can donate a proton, but it generally acts as a weak acid instead of a base.
Ethanamine: This compound contains a nitrogen atom with a lone pair of electrons, which can accept protons, making it a stronger base.
Ethyl ethanoate: This ester does not possess strong basic characteristics as it doesn’t have readily available lone pairs.
Step 3
Conclusion
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Answer
Based on the evaluation of the compounds, Ethanamine (C) is the most basic compound among the given options, as it can effectively accept protons due to the availability of a lone pair on the nitrogen atom.
