Acetamide Formula – Structure, Properties, Uses, Sample Questions

Acetamide, also known as acetic acid or ethanamide, is a kind of inorganic chemical. Furthermore, because the simplest amide is formed from acetic acid, it is slightly acidic in nature. Its applications include industrial solvents and plasticizers. It also has a higher pH value than acetone on a pH scale. Ethanamide is a colorless chemical with a mousy odor that is formed as a hygroscopic solid. This substance is highly soluble in chloroform, water, glycerol, and hot benzene, and is mildly soluble in ether.  It belongs to the acetamides class and is formed via the formal condensation of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) with ammonia (NH₃).  It is naturally present in red beetroot. 

Acetamide Formula

The Acetamide chemical formula is CH₃CONH₂ or C₂H₅NO. It has a molar mass of 59.07 g/mol as well. Acetamide has a methyl group (-CH₃) that is bonded to an amine (NH₂) and a carbonyl group (CO).  On the other hand, Acetamide is predominantly composed of a carboxylic acid amide functional group with a conventional structure of RC (=O) NH₂. Similarly, Acetamide is a member of the family of primary carboxylic acid amides. Also, it exists in nature and can be discovered as a natural compound. 

Structure of Acetamide

Acetamide structure 

Occurrence of Acetamide 

Acetamide is commonly found in burning waste coal stacks that develop between 50 and 150°C. (122-302°F). It has only emerged during periods of dry weather. Furthermore, the presence of the object has been identified at the heart of the Milky Way galaxy. This research may have significance for amino acids in proteins. This discovery also adds credence to the hypothesis that organic molecules habitable can originate in space. 

Preparation of Acetamide 

A significant proportion of acetamide is generated by ammonolysis of acetylacetone under reductive amination conditions. Further, anhydrous acetic acid, acetonitrile, and extremely well-dried hydrogen chloride gas are used to produce it, along with the more important reagent acetyl chloride.
This product is typically moderate (up to 35%), and the acetamide produced in this manner is formed as a salt with HCl. On a larger scale, though, they utilize a strategy comparable to that used by scientists.
In industries, acetamide is produced by dehydrating ammonium acetate or by hydrating acetonitrile, a byproduct of the manufacturing of acrylonitrile. 

CH₃CN + H₂O → CH₃C(O)NH₂

Physical properties of Acetamide

• In the field, we may distinguish the chemical as clear to translucent, grey variants, or colorless. It has a white streak as well as a density of 1.17 g/cm³.
• It has a hardness of 1 to 1.5, which is identical to talc or a little harder substance. 
• Acetamide has a melting point between 79 and 81°C and a boiling point of 221.2°C.
• Acetamide is the IUPAC name for CH₃CONH₂.
• It also has a density of 1.159 g/cm³ and is soluble in water (2000 g L^-1), pyridine (166.67 g L^-1), ethanol (500 g L^-1), chloroform, hot benzene, glycerol, and ether. 

Chemical Properties of Acetamide

It is a hygroscopic solid that is colorless and has a mousy odor that varies with its purity. It also has a pungent taste.
Furthermore, it belongs to the acetamide class, which is formed by the formal condensation of acetic acid (CH₃COOH) with ammonia (NH₃). Most crucially, the carbonyl, methyl, and anime groups exchange electrons to create acetamide. 

Uses of Acetamide 

• It is primarily utilized as a solvent for numerous inorganic and organic chemicals, as well as in explosives.
• Furthermore, it is used in industry as a plasticizer and hygroscopic agent.
• They also utilize it to make methylamine and as a stabilizer.
• It may also be used as a penetrating agent and a fire suppressor. 

Sample Questions 

Question 1: What is the purpose of acetamide?

Answer:

Acetamide is a chemical molecule with the formula CH₃CONH₂. This is the most basic amide among acetic acid derivatives.  Acetamide is utilised as a co-monomer in the production of polymeric goods such as polyvinyl acetamide, a polymeric commodity used as an absorbent. 

Question 2: Is acetamide soluble in hydrochloric acid (HCl)?

Answer:

Because ammonia and acetamide are smaller molecules, they are water and HCl soluble, according to the observations. Triethylamine, aniline, and N, N-dimethylaniline are not known to be soluble in water or HCl, although they are soluble in MTBE. Ammonia and acetamide do not dissolve MTBE. 

Question 3: Why is acetamide such a weak base compared to ethylamine?

Answer:

The existence of a lone pair of electrons on a base influences its intensity because these electrons “mop up” H+ ions in solution, raising pH toward more alkaline circumstances. Since there is less of a lone pair in phenylamine, it is a weaker base than ethylamine. 

Question 4: What is the odor of acetamide?

Answer:

Acetamide is a chemical produced from acetic acid that has been described as having a vinegar or ammonia-like odour. It’ll stick to regions where the muscles is resting and scavenge for food. 

Question 5: Why is acetamide water soluble?

Answer: 

The NH₂ amino group replaces the carboxylic hydroxyl group in the main amide. Acetamide (acetic acid + amide) is a good example. Water is soluble in low molecular weight amides formed by hydrogen bond production. 

Question 6: Is aniline or acetamide more basic?

Answer:

Aniline is more basic than acetamide. Because the lone pair of nitrogen in acetamide is delocalized to the more electronegative element oxygen,  The lone pair of nitrogen in aniline delocalized over the benzene ring. 

Question 7: Is acetamide acidic or basic?

Answer:

Acetamide, sometimes known as acetic acid or ethanamide, is a chemical compound. Furthermore, the most basic amide is made up of acetic acid, which is why it is somewhat acidic in nature.