Question:

Identify the product when ethyl amine reacts with nitrous acid in cold.

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A primary aliphatic amine gives an unstable diazonium salt that is replaced by OH to form an alcohol.
Updated On: Nov 12, 2026
  • \(\text{CH}_{3}\text{CH}_{2}\text{NO}_{2}\)
  • \(\text{CH}_{3}\text{CHO}\)
  • \(\text{CH}_{3}\text{CH}_{2}\text{OH}\)
  • \(\text{CH}_{3}\text{CH}_{2}\text{NC}\)
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept
Ethylamine is a primary aliphatic amine.
Nitrous acid is prepared in situ from \(\text{NaNO}_{2}\) and HCl.

Step 2: Reaction in cold
With \(\text{HNO}_{2}\) in the cold, ethylamine forms an unstable ethyldiazonium salt.
This decomposes at once and gives nitrogen gas, and the ethyl cation is captured by water.

Step 3: Product
\(\text{CH}_{3}\text{CH}_{2}\text{NH}_{2}+\text{HNO}_{2}\rightarrow\text{CH}_{3}\text{CH}_{2}\text{OH}+\text{N}_{2}+\text{H}_{2}\text{O}\)
So the product is ethyl alcohol.

Final Answer:
The product is ethyl alcohol, CH3CH2OH. \[ \boxed{\text{(C) }\text{CH}_{3}\text{CH}_{2}\text{OH}} \]
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