Question

Write the chemical equation involved in the carbylamine reaction for ethylamine.

Answer 1

A chemical test for identifying primary amines is the carbylamine reaction, sometimes referred to as the Hofmann isocyanide test. An unpleasant-smelling isocyanide called carbylamine is created when a primary amine combines with alcoholic potassium hydroxide (KOH) and chloroform (CHCl₃). 

Reaction:

\[\ce{C2H5NH2 + CHCl3 + 3KOH -> C2H5NC + 3KCl + 3H2O}\]