Organic Chemistry> Why is OH minus less basic than NH2 minus...

Why is OH minus less basic than NH2 minus???????????

F.I. Mazumder , 7 Years ago

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2 Answers

Mahima Kanawat

Last Activity: 7 Years ago

Dear student

To check basic nature in period, we check EN of elements. Here, EN of O > EN of N

EN is inverse of basic nature because if EN is more the element will not lose electron easily.

Therefore OH minus is less basic than NH2 minus.

WITH REGARDS

MAHIMA

ASKIITIANS FORUM

Approved

Rajdeep

Last Activity: 7 Years ago

HELLO THERE!

First of all, what is the characteristic that determines basicity of an organic compound or ion?

The compound/ion that donates its lone pair electrons easily, are more basic.

Further, the more electronegative is an element, the more is its affinity for electrons, hence more electronegative elements can never donate their lone pair electrons easily.

If you check the periodic table, the electronegativity increases as you go from left to right across a period, and nitrogen is located left to oxygen, so Electronegativity of Nitrogen (3.04) is less than that of Oxygen (3.5).

Hence, in OH^-, the O atom cannot donate its electron pair as easily as N atom in NH₂^- can. Hence, NH₂^- is more basic than OH^-.

THANKS!