Question

The test that is done for the differentiation of primary amines from secondary and tertiary amine is:

• A. Hell-Volhard Zelinsky reaction
• B. Tollen’s reagent
• C. Azo dye test
• D. Carbylamine test

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

The Carbylamine reaction is a chemical test for detection of primary amines. In this reaction, the analyte is heated with alcoholic potassium hydroxide and chloroform. If a primary amine is present, the isocyanide is formed.
For example, the reaction with ethylamine:
$$\begin{gathered} {\text{C}}_2{\text{H}}_5{\text{NH}}_2+{\text{CHCl}}_3+3\text{KOH}{\to }_{}^{}{\text{C}}_2{\text{H}}_5\text{NC}+3\text{KCl}+3{\text{H}}_2\text{O} \\ \text{Ethylamine}\text{Chloroform}\text{Ethyl}\text{isocyanide} \end{gathered}$$