Hydrolysis of Amides
- Hydrolysis means breaking a compound apart using water.
- In amide hydrolysis, the C–N bond in the amide is broken, and the amide is converted into a carboxylic acid (or its salt) and an amine (or ammonia).
Types of Hydrolysis
1. Acidic Hydrolysis
- Amide is heated with water in the presence of a strong acid (like HCl or H₂SO₄).
- The product is a carboxylic acid and ammonium salt.
- Example: Ethanamide gives ethanoic acid + ammonium chloride.
2. Basic Hydrolysis (Alkaline Hydrolysis)
- Amide is heated with water and a strong base (like NaOH or KOH).
- The product is a carboxylate salt and an amine (or ammonia).
- Example: Ethanamide gives sodium ethanoate + ammonia.
Key Points
- Hydrolysis of amides is slower compared to esters because the C–N bond is stronger and less reactive than the C–O bond.
- Usually requires heat and strong acid/base to proceed.
- Reaction is important in both laboratory synthesis and biological systems (enzymes called amidases or proteases catalyze this process in living organisms).
In short:
Hydrolysis of amides is the breaking down of amides by water, producing carboxylic acids (or their salts) and amines/ammonia, carried out under acidic or basic conditions.