What is the Difference Between Methylamine and Dimethylamine?

Methylamine and dimethylamine are both organic compounds with the chemical formulas CH3NH2 and (CH3)2NH, respectively. The key difference between these two compounds is the number of methyl groups attached to the amine group:

• Methylamine: This is a primary amine with one methyl group attached to the amine group.
• Dimethylamine: This is a secondary amine with two methyl groups attached to the amine group.

Another difference between the two is their basicity. Methylamine is more basic than dimethylamine due to the increased electron density on the nitrogen atom in methylamine, which is a result of the presence of fewer methyl groups.

Methylamine and dimethylamine can be distinguished using the carbylamine test, which is given by primary amines (aliphatic or aromatic). In this test, methylamine reacts with chloroform in the presence of a strong base (KOH) to form a foul-smelling compound (isonitrile). Dimethylamine, being a secondary amine, does not give this test.

Comparative Table: Methylamine vs Dimethylamine

Methylamine and dimethylamine are both amine compounds, but they differ in the number of methyl groups attached to the amine group. Here is a comparison between the two:

Methylamine has one methyl group attached to the amine group, while dimethylamine has two methyl groups attached to the amine group. Dimethylamine is a stronger base than methylamine due to the additional electron-donating methyl group. The lower boiling point of dimethylamine compared to methylamine is attributed to the lower dipole-dipole attractions in dimethylamine.