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Naming Amines
Definition of Amines:
Amines
are organic chemical compounds that include the functional group -NH2
That is, amines are a class or category of organic chemical compounds that include a nitrogen atom connected to two hydrogen atoms by single covalent bonds between the nitogen and each of the hydrogen atoms.
Amine molecules can vary in size up to very long molecules most of which consist of carbon atoms attached to each other and also to hydrogen atoms. |
Names of Amines in General
Amines may be named in various ways.
The name of the compund is usually formed from either the prefix "amino-" or the suffix: "-amine."
The prefix "N-" indicates which carbon atom the nitrogen atom is attached to. In the first table (below) the nitrogen atom is attached to an end - so counted as a "first" or "one" carbon atom in all cases.
An organic compound with multiple amino groups is called a diamine, triamine, tetraamine and so forth.
Here the simplest amines are named and their structures drawn first.
Larger and more complex molecules follow afterwards.
Names and Structures of simple Linear Amines
The homologous series of linear amines with the -amine (or "-amino") group attached to the first (=last!) carbon atom is shown below.
Number carbons in chain |
Name |
Simple Structure |
Other Names = Synonyns
*Examples not complete lists (Not all required for A-Level) |
and simple formula |
showing bond types but not accurate bond angles |
 |
1 |
methylamine (CH5N) |
CH3NH2 |
|
 |
- methanamine
- n-Methylamine
- aminomethane
- amino methane
|
2 |
ethylamine (C2H7N) |
CH3CH2NH2 |
|
 |
- ethanamine
- n-Ethylamine
- aminowthane
- amino ethane
|
3 |
propylamine (C3H9N) |
CH3CH2CH2NH2 |
|
 |
- propan-1-amine
- n-Propylamine
- Propan-1-amine
- 1-Aminopropane
|
4 |
butylamine (C4H11N) |
CH3CH2CH2CH2NH2 |
|
 |
- butan-1-amine
- n-Butylamine
- amino butane
- 1-Aminobutane
|
5 |
pentylamine (C5H13N) |
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2 |
|
 |
- pentan-1-amine
- n-Pentylamine
- Pentanamine
- n-Amylamine
- 1-Aminopentane
|
6 |
hexylamine (C6H15N) |
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2 |
|
 |
- hexan-1-amine
- n-Hexylamine
- 1-Aminohexane
|
7 |
heptylamine (C7H17N) |
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2 |
|
 |
- heptan-1-amine
- n-Heptylamine
- 1-Aminoheptane
|
8 |
octylamine (C8H19N) |
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2 |
|
 |
- octan-1-amine
- n-Octylamine
- 1-Aminooctane
- 1-Octanamine
- Monoctylamine;
|
9 |
nonylamine (C9H21N) |
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2 |
|
 |
- nonan-1-amine
- n-Nonylamine
- 1-Aminononane
|
10 |
decylamine (C10H23N) |
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2 |
 |
|
 |
- decan-1-amine
- n-Decylamine
- 1-Aminodecane
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Why stop at ten carbon atoms (in the chain) ? It doesn't. There are more similar linear amines, or 1-aminoalkanes. We stopped here due to page width.
Important Note: *The synonyms indicated for compounds listed above are just some examples of alternative names found online and believed to have been used to refer to the substance indicated. They have not all been verified and may include common (non-scientific) names, trade names specific to particular suppliers, and perhaps errors. The purpose of these lists is to give a general indication of the range of names by which amines are known - both generally, and specifically.
See also the related page about functional groups in organic molecules, which includes the amine group among others.
Note:
This is one of many pages about types of organic compounds in our Organic Chemistry Section. Similar and related pages describe hydrocarbons, alkanes, haloalkanes, alkenes, alkynes, cycloalkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons (arenes), alcohols, esters, ethers, aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acids, acid chlorides, acid anhydrides, azo dyes, amines, amides, nitriles, amino acids (chemistry), peptides, proteins (chemistry), polypeptides and others. If you need further information ask your chemistry tutor.
According to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) recommendations for nomenclature of organic chemistry, compounds that include the general structure -C-NH2 may be called amines, see more about naming amines at http://www.acdlabs.com/iupac/nomenclature/79/r79_517.htm.
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