Pyridine is less basic than triethylamine because :

Options

A. pyridine has aromatic character
B. nitrogen in pyridine is `sp^(2)` hybridised
C. pyridine is a cyclic system
D. in pyridine, lone pair of nitrogen is delocalised.

Answer

D

Explanation

Basicity of amines is due to availability of an unshared pair (lone pair) of electrons on nitrogen. This lone pair of electrons is available for the formation of a new bond with a proton or Lewis acid.
Pyridine is less basic than triethylamine because lone pair of nitrogen in pyridine is delocalised.