Q. When acetamide is treated with $Br_{2}$and caustic soda, the product formed is

A) N-bromamide
B) Bromoacetic acid
C) Methanamine
D) Ethanamine
Explanation

(c)
Amides react with bromine and caustic soda to give their corresponding primary amines. Thus, acetamide gives methanamine. This reaction is known as Hofmann’s bromamide degradation reaction.
$O$
$||$
$H_{3}C - C - NH_{2} + Br_{2} + 4KOH\overset{343\ K\ \ \ \ }{\rightarrow}2KBr + K_{2}CO_{3} + H_{3}C - NH_{2} + 2H_{2}O$
acetamide methanamine

Dr. Abubacker
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker

Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist

Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.