Forming amides

​​In a nutshell

Amides are derivates of carboxylic acids. They have the functional group $$-CONH$$.
Amides have the suffix '-amide.' They can be made by reacting concentrated ammonia or primary amines with acyl chlorides.
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Equations

These are general chemical equations. You will need to be able to use these when you write equations for specific substances.

​$$acyl \ chloride \ + \ ammonia \rightarrow primary \ amide \ + \ hydrogen \ chloride \\ acyl \ chloride \ + \ primary \ amine \rightarrow N-substituted \ amide \ + \ hydrogen \ chloride$$​​

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Amides

Amides are derivates of carboxylic acids. They have the functional group $$-CONH$$. The reactivity of amides is different to amines because the carbonyl group in amides pull electron density towards itself, away from the nitrogen. There are primary amides and N-substituted amides.

Primary amides have two hydrogens attached to the nitrogen. N-substituted amides have one hydrogen attached to the nitrogen.

Naming amides

Amides have the suffix '-amide.' Substituted amides have the prefix 'N-alkyl,' where the alkyl chain is directly attached to the nitrogen atom of the amide.

Example 

Making amides

Amides can be produced by reacting concentrated ammonia or primary amines with acyl chlorides.

Primary amide

$$acyl \ chloride \ + \ ammonia \rightarrow primary \ amide \ + \ hydrogen \ chloride$$​​

Example 

​$$ethanoyl \ chloride \ + \ ammonia \rightarrow ethanamide \ + \ hydrogen \ chloride \\CH_3COCl \ + \ NH_3 \rightarrow CH_3CONH_2 \ + \ HCl$$​​

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N-substituted amide

​$$acyl \ chloride \ + \ primary \ amine \rightarrow N-substituted \ amide \ + \ hydrogen \ chloride$$​​

Example 

​$$propanoyl \ chloride \ + \ methylamine \rightarrow N-methylpropanamide \ + \ hydrogen \ chloride \\C_3H_7Cl \ + \ CH_3NH_2 \rightarrow C_3H_7CONHCH_3 \ + \ HCl$$​​