Intermolecular association in primary and secondary amines is due to hydrogen bonding between the nitrogen of one molecule and the hydrogen of another. Primary amines exhibit stronger association because they have two hydrogen atoms available for hydrogen bond formation.
What is the basis for intermolecular association in primary and secondary amines, and why is this association stronger in primary amines compared to secondary amines?
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Intermolecular association in primary and secondary amines is based on hydrogen bonding between the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom and a hydrogen atom of another molecule. In primary amines, each nitrogen has two hydrogens available for hydrogen bonding, leading to stronger intermolecular association. In secondary amines, each nitrogen has only one hydrogen for potential hydrogen bonding. The increased number of hydrogen atoms in primary amines allows for more extensive and stronger hydrogen bonding networks, making intermolecular association stronger compared to secondary amines with fewer hydrogen bonding sites.