CAIE A-Level Chemistry A2 34.3.3 Why Amides Are Much Weaker Bases Than Amines Topic Practice

Question 1

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Amino acids are molecules that contain NH2-\mathrm{NH}_{2} and -COOH functional groups.
Glycine, H2NCH2COOH\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{NCH}_{2} \mathrm{COOH}, is the simplest stable amino acid.

A student proposes a synthesis of hippuric acid by the reaction of benzamide, C6H5CONH2\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{CONH}_{2}, and chloroethanoic acid, ClCH2COOH\mathrm{ClCH}_{2} \mathrm{COOH}.

The reaction does not work well because benzamide is a very weak base.

Explain why amides are weaker bases than amines.

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