Amides
Cambridge A-Level Chemistry (9701) · Unit 34: Organic nitrogen compounds · 8 flashcards
Amides is topic 34.3 in the Cambridge A-Level Chemistry (9701) syllabus , positioned in Unit 34 — Organic nitrogen compounds , alongside Primary and secondary amines, Phenylamine and azo compounds and Amino acids. In one line: Lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH₄) is used to reduce the carbonyl (CO) group in amides. This reduction forms an amine.
Marked as A2 Level: examined at A Level in Paper 4 (A Level Structured Questions) and Paper 5 (Planning, Analysis and Evaluation). It is not tested on the AS-only papers (Papers 1, 2 and 3).
The deck below contains 8 flashcards — 1 definition and 7 key concepts — covering the precise wording mark schemes reward. Use the definition card to lock down command-word answers (define, state), then move on to the concept and calculation cards to handle explain, describe, calculate and compare questions.
What reducing agent is used to reduce the CO group in amides
Lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH₄) is used to reduce the carbonyl (CO) group in amides. This reduction forms an amine.
What the Cambridge 9701 syllabus says
2025-2027 syllabus, in our words · A2 LevelWhat the syllabus expects you to be able to do in this topic, in plain English. For the exact wording, see the official syllabus (PDF).
- Recall the reagents and conditions used to make amides: (a) an acyl chloride reacting with ammonia at room temperature; (b) an acyl chloride reacting with a primary amine, again at room temperature.
- Describe how amides react: (a) they are hydrolysed by aqueous acid or aqueous alkali; (b) LiAlH₄ reduces their C=O group, giving an amine.
- State and explain why amines are far stronger bases than amides.
Cambridge syllabus keywords to use in your answers
These are the official Cambridge 9701 terms tagged to this section. Mark schemes credit responses that use the exact term — weave them into your answers verbatim rather than paraphrasing.
Tips to avoid common mistakes in Amides
- › Include H2O and H+ on the left-hand side and NH4+ on the right when writing balanced equations for acid hydrolysis of amides.
- › Remember that while amine groups can be protonated to -NH3+, amide groups (-CONH2) remain neutral and do not accept protons easily.
What are the reagents and conditions required to produce an amide from an acyl chloride and ammonia?
Amides are formed from the reaction of an acyl chloride and ammonia at room temperature. The reaction involves nucleophilic acyl substitution, where ammonia acts as the nucleophile attacking the carbonyl carbon.
What are the reagents and conditions required to produce an amide from an acyl chloride and a primary amine?
Amides are formed from the reaction of an acyl chloride and a primary amine at room temperature. The amine acts as a nucleophile, attacking the carbonyl carbon of the acyl chloride in a nucleophilic acyl substitution reaction.
Describe the products of amide hydrolysis under acidic conditions.
Under acidic conditions (
Describe the products of amide hydrolysis under alkaline conditions.
Under alkaline conditions (
What reducing agent is used to reduce the CO group in amides?
Lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH₄) is used to reduce the carbonyl (CO) group in amides. This reduction forms an amine.
What type of product is formed when an amide undergoes reduction with LiAlH₄?
The reduction of an amide with LiAlH₄ yields an amine. The carbonyl group (C=O) is reduced to a CH₂ group.
Explain why amides are much weaker bases than amines.
Amides are weaker bases because the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom is delocalized into the carbonyl group via resonance. This delocalization reduces the availability of the lone pair for protonation, making the amide less basic compared to amines, where the nitrogen lone pair is more localized.
Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction between ethanoyl chloride and methylamine to produce an amide.
CH₃COCl + CH₃NH₂ → CH₃CONHCH₃ + HCl. This reaction produces N-methylethanamide and hydrogen chloride.
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Amides sits alongside these A-Level Chemistry decks in the same syllabus unit. Each uses the same spaced-repetition system, so progress in one informs the next.
Key terms covered in this Amides deck
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