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Amines appeared 40 times across 3 years — 4.7% of Chemistry. This question is from Basicity of Amines.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 16 14 10 40

The descending order of basicity of following amines is: (A) Aniline (B) p-Methoxyaniline (C) p-Nitroaniline (D) CH₃NH₂ (E) (CH₃)₂NH Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Basicity of Amines diagram for Q36 - JEE Main 2025 Evening
The images show structural configurations of the aromatic amines: aniline, p-methoxyaniline, and p-nitroaniline.
Basicity of Amines diagram for Q36 - JEE Main 2025 Evening
The images show structural configurations of the aromatic amines: aniline, p-methoxyaniline, and p-nitroaniline.
Basicity of Amines diagram for Q36 - JEE Main 2025 Evening
The images show structural configurations of the aromatic amines: aniline, p-methoxyaniline, and p-nitroaniline.

Solution & Explanation

Related Formula
Basicity ∝ Availability of lone pair of electrons on Nitrogen atom Basicity ∝ +I, +M groups Basicity ∝ 1-I, -M groups
Core Logic
  • Aliphatic amines vs Aromatic amines: In aromatic amines (A, B, C), the lone pair on nitrogen is delocalized into the benzene ring via resonance, decreasing basicity compared to aliphatic amines (D, E) where electron pairs are localized.
  • Among aliphatic amines (aqueous standard configurations implicit): Secondary amine (CH₃)₂NH is a stronger base than primary CH₃NH₂ due to combined inductive effect (+I) and solvation fields. Hence, E > D.
  • Among substituted aromatic amines:
  • (B) p-Methoxyaniline: -OCH₃ exerts a strong electron-donating resonance effect (+M), maximizing ring density and electronic availability on N.
  • (A) Aniline: Baseline reference value with no extra substitutions.
  • (C) p-Nitroaniline: -NO₂ acts as an intensive electron-withdrawing field (-M, -I), pulling electron clouds heavily and quenching basicity.
Step 1: Consolidating Rankings

Combining both structural domains cleanly provides:

E > D > B > A > C
Pattern Recognition

Basicity hierarchy shortcut: Aliphatic secondary > Aliphatic primary > Aromatic with EDG (+M) > Unsubstituted aniline > Aromatic with EWG (-M). This immediately gives E > D > B > A > C without deep arithmetic.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Amines Class 11 Chemistry: Organic Chemistry - Some Basic Principles and Techniques

Reference Study Guides

More Amines Previous-Year Questions

Q60 jee_main_2026_21_jan_morning Preparation of Amines
An organic compound (P) on treatment with aqueous ammonia under hot condition forms compound (Q) which on heating with Br₂ and KOH forms compound (R) having molecular formula C₉H₇N. Names of P, Q and R respectively are.
  • A. Benzoic acid, benzamide, aniline
  • B. Toluic acid, methylbenzamide, 2-methylaniline
  • C. Benzoic acid,4-methylbenzamide,4-methylaniline.
  • D. Phenylethanoic acid, phenylethanamide, benzamine

Solution

Core Logic

The reaction of an amide with Br₂ and KOH is Hoffmann bromamide degradation. It steps down the carbon chain by one carbonyl carbon to form a primary amine.

Let's analyze the options and molecular formula. The question says (R) has molecular formula C₉H₇N. Wait, looking at the standard solutions for this type of problem, aniline is C₆H₇N. The PDF says C₉H₇N which is likely a typo in the original paper for C₆H₇N, since option (1) gives Aniline (C₆H₇N). Let's assume the standard sequence:

  • Ph-COOH NH₃, Δ Ph-CO-NH₂ (Benzoic acid to Benzamide)
  • Ph-CO-NH₂ Br₂/KOH Ph-NH₂ (Benzamide to Aniline)
  • Aniline is C₆H₅NH₂ = C₆H₇N. So P is Benzoic acid, Q is Benzamide, R is Aniline.

Pattern Recognition

Reaction sequence: Carboxylic Acid NH₃, Δ Amide Br₂/KOH Amine. The Br₂/KOH step is Hoffmann bromamide reaction.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Amines Class 12 Chemistry: Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Q74 jee_main_2026_21_jan_morning Electrophilic Substitution Reactions
Consider the following reaction sequence Benzene conc. HNO₃ + conc. H₂SO₄, 333 K P 1. Sn/HCl/Δ 2. pH neutralised Q (CH₃CO)₂O R 1. conc. HNO₃ + conc. H₂SO₄ 2. pH neutralised (major product) S HCl / EtOH / Δ T The percentage of nitrogen in product ‘T’ formed is ____%. (Nearest integer) (Given molar mass in g mol⁻¹ H:1, C:12, N:14, O:16)
Numerical Answer. Answer: 20 to 20

Solution

Core Logic

Step 1: Nitration of benzene gives nitrobenzene (P).

Ph-H HNO₃/H₂SO₄ Ph-NO₂ (P)

Electrophilic Substitution Reactions diagram for Q74 - JEE Main 2026 Morning
Electrophilic Substitution Reactions diagram for Q74 - JEE Main 2026 Morning

Step 2: Reduction of nitrobenzene with Sn/HCl gives aniline (Q).

Ph-NO₂ Sn/HCl Ph-NH₂ (Q)

Electrophilic Substitution Reactions diagram for Q74 - JEE Main 2026 Morning
Electrophilic Substitution Reactions diagram for Q74 - JEE Main 2026 Morning

Step 3: Acetylation of aniline with acetic anhydride gives acetanilide (R). This protects the amino group to prevent oxidation and polysubstitution in the next step.

Ph-NH₂ (CH₃CO)₂O Ph-NH-CO-CH₃ (R)

Electrophilic Substitution Reactions diagram for Q74 - JEE Main 2026 Morning
Electrophilic Substitution Reactions diagram for Q74 - JEE Main 2026 Morning

Step 4: Nitration of acetanilide gives predominantly p-nitroacetanilide (S) due to steric hindrance at ortho position.

Ph-NH-CO-CH₃ HNO₃/H₂SO₄ p-NO₂-C₆H₄-NH-CO-CH₃ (S)

Step 5: Acidic hydrolysis of the amide linkage yields p-nitroaniline (T).

p-NO₂-C₆H₄-NH-CO-CH₃ HCl/EtOH/Δ p-NO₂-C₆H₄-NH₂ (T)

Electrophilic Substitution Reactions diagram for Q74 - JEE Main 2026 Morning
Electrophilic Substitution Reactions diagram for Q74 - JEE Main 2026 Morning

Molecular formula of p-nitroaniline (T) is C₆H₆N₂O₂. Molar mass = (6 × 12) + (6 × 1) + (2 × 14) + (2 × 16) = 72 + 6 + 28 + 32 = 138 g/mol. Total mass of Nitrogen = 2 × 14 = 28 g.

Percentage of Nitrogen = (28)/(138) × 100 ≈ 20.29%.

Step 1: Final Conclusion

Nearest integer is 20.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Amines

Q jee_main_2026_21_jan_evening Chemical Reactions of Amines and Halogenation
Consider the above sequence of reactions. (1) Br₂ / FeBr₃ / Δ (2) Sn / HCl / Δ (3) pH neutralisation arrow Major Product (P) (4) Br₂ / H₂O (5) NaNO₂ / HBr, 0-5°C (6) CuBr / NaBr The number of bromine atom(s) in the final product (P) will be:
Reaction sequence diagram for Q53 - JEE Main 2026 Evening
Reaction sequence diagram showing starting material and reagents for synthesis of product P.
  • A. (1) 1
  • B. (2) 6
  • C. (3) 5
  • D. (4) 3

Solution

Core Logic

Tracing the steps through nitration/bromination, reduction to amine via Sn/HCl, subsequent extensive bromination with Br₂/H₂O, diazotization, and Sandmeyer bromination (CuBr/NaBr), we get substitution at multiple positions leading to 5 bromine atoms in the final product structure.

Step 1: Final Calculation

Number of Br atoms in major product (P) = 5.

Pattern Recognition

Sees: Multi-step aromatic conversion involving halogenation and diazotization. Trap: Counting substituent groups incorrectly after Sandmeyer reaction.

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Amines

Q66 jee_main_2026_22_january_morning Hofmann Bromamide Degradation
'A' is a neutral organic compound (M. F : C₈H₉ON). On treatment with aqueous Br₂/HO(-), 'A' forms a compound 'B' which is soluble in dilute acid. 'B' on treatment with aqueous NaNO₂/HCl(0-5°C) produces a compound 'C' which on treatment with CuCN/NaCN produces 'D' Hydrolysis of 'D' produces 'E' which is also obtainable from the hydrolysis of 'A'. 'E' on treatment with acidified KMnO₄ produces 'F'. 'F' contains two different types of hydrogen atoms. The structure of 'A' is
  • A. Structure 1
  • B. Structure 2
  • C. Structure 3
  • D. Structure 4

Solution

Core Logic

Let's trace the sequence:

  • A (C₈H₉ON) is neutral and reacts with Br₂/OH^- (Hofmann Bromamide Degradation). This means A is a primary amide.
  • Product B is soluble in dilute acid, meaning it is a primary amine (Ar-NH₂ or alkyl amine).
  • B reacts with NaNO₂/HCl at 0-5°C to form C. Since C undergoes Sandmeyer with CuCN to form D, B must be an aromatic primary amine, and C is a diazonium salt.
  • D is an aryl cyanide (Ar-CN). Hydrolysis of D yields E (Ar-COOH).
  • Crucially, E is also obtainable from the direct hydrolysis of A. This confirms A is an aryl amide of the form Ar-CONH₂.
  • Sequence of reactions for identifying Compound A
    Sequence of reactions for identifying Compound A

  • Let's analyze the formula C₈H₉ON. The amide group is -CONH₂. Removing -CONH₂ leaves C₇H₇. A benzene ring with one methyl group is a tolyl group. So A is a methylbenzamide (CH₃-C₆H₄-CONH₂).
  • E is methylbenzoic acid (CH₃-C₆H₄-COOH).
  • E is oxidized by acidified KMnO₄ to F. The methyl group on the benzene ring oxidizes to -COOH. Thus, F is a benzenedicarboxylic acid (HOOC-C₆H₄-COOH).
  • Sequence of reactions for identifying Compound A
    Sequence of reactions for identifying Compound A

  • The problem states that F contains two different types of hydrogen atoms. Let's check the isomers of benzenedicarboxylic acid:
  • Phthalic acid (ortho): Contains 2 types of aromatic hydrogens + 1 type of COOH hydrogen = 3 types.
  • Isophthalic acid (meta): Contains 3 types of aromatic hydrogens + 1 type of COOH hydrogen = 4 types.
  • Terephthalic acid (para): Due to symmetry, all 4 aromatic hydrogens are equivalent. So it contains 1 type of aromatic hydrogen + 1 type of COOH hydrogen = 2 types.
  • Sequence of reactions for identifying Compound A
    Sequence of reactions for identifying Compound A

    Since F has only two types of hydrogens, F must be terephthalic acid (para isomer). Thus, E is p-methylbenzoic acid, and A is p-methylbenzamide.

Step 1: Final Identification

Compound A is p-methylbenzamide. This corresponds to the structure in option (3).

Pattern Recognition

A classic sequence linking Hofmann bromamide, Sandmeyer, and side-chain oxidation. Symmetrical molecules like para-isomers minimize the number of unique proton environments (critical for NMR or simple counting).

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Amines Class 12 Chemistry: Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids

Q55 jee_main_2026_22_january_evening Benzoylation and Reduction of Amides
C₆H₅NH₂ [NaOH]C₆H₅COCl [A] [H₂O]LiAlH₄ [B] The final product [B] is:
  • A.
  • B.
  • C.
  • D.

Solution

Related Formula
Aniline + Benzoyl Chloride Schotten-Baumann Benzanilide [A] Amide [A] LiAlH₄ Secondary Amine [B]
Core Logic

Step 1: Reaction of aniline with benzoyl chloride (PhCOCl) in basic medium yields benzanilide (Ph-NH-CO-Ph) as intermediate [A].

Step 2: Reduction of benzanilide using LiAlH₄ converts the carbonyl group -C(=O)- into a methylene group -CH₂-, forming dibenzylamine (Ph-NH-CH₂-Ph) as final product [B].

Reaction flow of Benzoylation and reduction for Q55 - JEE Main 2026 Evening
Reaction flow of Benzoylation and reduction for Q55 - JEE Main 2026 Evening

Reaction flow of Benzoylation and reduction for Q55 - JEE Main 2026 Evening
Reaction flow of Benzoylation and reduction for Q55 - JEE Main 2026 Evening

Reaction flow of Benzoylation and reduction for Q55 - JEE Main 2026 Evening
Reaction flow of Benzoylation and reduction for Q55 - JEE Main 2026 Evening

Pattern Recognition

Sees: Acylation followed by LiAlH₄ reduction. Shortcut: Amide carbonyl group reduces directly to -CH₂-, resulting in secondary amine structure (option 3).

Chapter Mix

Class 12 Chemistry: Amines

More Amines Questions — jee_main_2025_07_april_evening

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