1^o Amine

2^o Amine

3^o Amine

Procedure

To 0.3 mL or 300 mg of unknown in a test tube, add 5 mL of 10% NaOH solution and 0.4 mL of benzenesulfonyl chloride. Stopper the test tube, and shake the mixture vigorously. Test the solution to make sure that it is still alkaline. After all of the benzenesulfonyl chloride has reacted, cool the solution and separate the residue, if present, from the solution. Test the residue for solubility in 10% HCl solution. If no residue remains, then treat the solution with 10% HCl solution and observe whether a precipitate forms.

Positive Test

1^o amines - dissolves in base and precipitates from acid is a positive test.

2^o amines - precipitates from base and no change from acid is a positive test.

3^o amines - precipitates from base and dissolves in acid is a positive test.

Complications

Amphoteric compounds give erroneous results.

Some sodium salts of benzenesulfonamides of primary amines are insoluble in the Hinsberg solution and may appear to be secondary amines.

Some tertiary amine hydrochloride salts are insoluble in dilute HCl and water and may also appear to be secondary amines.