Amines

Amines serve many purposes and like all functional groups, are used a lot in our society.  They are used in medicine, the textile industry, as flotation agents and stabilizers, to name a few. 

Amines have fairly high boiling points and produce fishy smells. 

Amines are based on the structure of Ammonia.  NH3.  Nitrogen has 5 electrons, are so it will bond with 3 other electrons to try and become stable.  There are three types of amines.  Primary, secondary, and tertiary.  In primary bonds, a Nitrogen bonds with 1 Carbon and 2 Hydrongens.  In secondary, Nitrogen bonds with 2 Carbons and 1 Hydrogen. And you guessed it, in tertiary, Nitrogen bonds with 3 Carbons.

General Structure:

The 'H's don't necessarily have to be Hydrogens.  They can also be Carbon chains. Amines, like ethers, are side groups.

Naming Rules

1) Identify the longest Carbon chain and name it. 

2) Where the Nitrogen branches off is the start of the side group.  Count the number of Carbons attatched to this.  Name it with amino(primary amine) before the parent chain. 

3) If the Amine group is not located on the first Carbon, identify the location.

Let's do an example. 

The longest chain is pentane, so that is the ending of your name.  The lowest number your amine group can be on is 2.  Thus 2-aminopentane.

Note: nitro group are NO2.  Amines are NH2. 

And here's a wonderful song to help you study for a test or distinguish the different functional groups.

It's a Chemistry Thing Song

Here's a good site if you need more help.

Review

Khan Academy also has many great videos.