The key difference between methylamine and dimethylamine is that methylamine has one methyl group attached to the amine group, while dimethylamine has two methyl groups attached to the amine group.
Methylamine and dimethylamine are simple amine compounds. Both these organic compounds occur as colourless gases and have a fishy-ammonia-like odour.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Methylamine
3. What is Dimethylamine
4. Side by Side Comparison – Methylamine vs Dimethylamine in Tabular Form
5. Summary
What is Methylamine?
Methylamine is an organic compound having the chemical formula CH5N. The compound has a methyl group attached to an amine group. Therefore, the nitrogen atom has two hydrogen atoms attached to it. Also, this compound is the simplest amine, and it occurs as a colourless gas with an odour like fishy-ammonia. The molar mass is 31.05 g/mol.
In the production process of methylamine, the reaction between ammonia and methanol is used in the presence of aluminosilicate catalyst. However, in this production process, both dimethylamine and trimethylamine form as co-products. Here, we have to change the reaction kinetics and reactant ratios to obtain the desired product as the major outcome.
What is Dimethylamine?
Dimethylamine is an organic compound having the chemical formula (CH3)2NH. Here, the compound has two methyl groups attached to the amine group. Therefore, the nitrogen atom in the amine group has only one hydrogen atom attached to it other than the methyl groups. It occurs as a colourless gas and has a fishy odour. Moreover, its molar mass is 45.08 g/mol. We categorize it as a secondary amine because of the two methyl groups.
Also, this compound occurs naturally in many plants and animals. Besides, we can produce this compound via the reaction between methanol and ammonia in the presence of a catalyst, high temperature and pressure conditions.
What is the Difference Between Methylamine and Dimethylamine?
Methylamine is an organic compound having the chemical formula CH5N while Dimethylamine is an organic compound having the chemical formula (CH3)2NH. So, the key difference between methylamine and dimethylamine is that methylamine has one methyl group attached to the amine group, while dimethylamine has two methyl groups attached to the amine group. Therefore, dimethylamine is a stronger base than methylamine.
Moreover, we can produce these compounds via the reaction between methanol and ammonia in the presence of aluminosilicate catalyst, but it gives methylamine, dimethylamine and trimethylamine as co-products. Thus, we have to maintain the correct reaction conditions. i.e. high pressure and high-temperature conditions will give more dimethylamine.
Below infographic shows more details on the difference between methylamine and dimethylamine.
Summary – Methylamine vs Dimethylamine
Methylamine is an organic compound having the chemical formula CH5N while Dimethylamine is an organic compound having the chemical formula (CH3)2NH. The key difference between methylamine and dimethylamine is that methylamine has one methyl group attached to the amine group, while dimethylamine has two methyl groups attached to the amine group.
Reference:
1. “Methylamine.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 July 2019, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Methylamine” By Nothingserious – Own work (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Dimethylamine-2D-skeletal” (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia