The presence of a base is needed in the ammonolysis of alkyl halides. Explain.

Explanation

During ammonolysis of alkyl halides, the acid liberated during the reaction combines with the amine and forms amine salt. To liberate free amine from the amine salt, a base is needed. The base used is excess of alcoholic `NH_(3)` which serves both as a nucleophile as well as a base. For example,

`underset("Amine salt")(RNH_(3)^(+) X^( ))+underset("Base")(NH_(3))hArrunderset(1^(@)amine)(RNH_(2))+NH_(4)^(+)X^(-)`