Base hydrolysis of an amide yields which nitrogen-containing product?

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Multiple Choice

Base hydrolysis of an amide yields which nitrogen-containing product?

Under base hydrolysis, an amide is cleaved in which the nitrogen ends up as the amine species released from the amide, typically ammonia (NH3). Mechanistically, hydroxide attacks the carbonyl, the amide portion leaves as NH2− which grabs a proton from water to form NH3. In strongly basic solution, ammonia remains as NH3 rather than being protonated to NH4+. Ammonium ion would arise mainly under acidic conditions. So the nitrogen-containing product in base hydrolysis is ammonia, not ammonium. Ether is unrelated, and a substituted amine would imply a different product.

Under base hydrolysis, an amide is cleaved in which the nitrogen ends up as the amine species released from the amide, typically ammonia (NH3). Mechanistically, hydroxide attacks the carbonyl, the amide portion leaves as NH2− which grabs a proton from water to form NH3. In strongly basic solution, ammonia remains as NH3 rather than being protonated to NH4+. Ammonium ion would arise mainly under acidic conditions. So the nitrogen-containing product in base hydrolysis is ammonia, not ammonium. Ether is unrelated, and a substituted amine would imply a different product.

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