Amide hydrolysis under basic conditions yields which products?

• A. Ethyl acetate and ammonia
• B. Acetic acid and ammonium
• C. Water and acetic anhydride
• D. Sodium acetate and ammonia

Answer: (D)

Under basic conditions, amide hydrolysis proceeds with hydroxide attacking the carbonyl to give a carboxylate and release the amine as ammonia. The carboxyl group is deprotonated in the alkaline medium, so it exists as a carboxylate salt, pairing with the metal cation from the base to form a sodium carboxylate. For an acetamide example, this yields sodium acetate and ammonia. This contrasts with acidic hydrolysis, which gives the carboxylic acid and ammonium, or with hydrolysis of other functional groups like esters.