Primary and secondary amines can be distinguished by

Options

A. Schiff's reagent
B. Carbylamine reaction
C. Hofmann's bromamide reaction
D. Biuret reaction

Answer

To distinguish between primary and secondary amines, we can use the following methods:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Amines**:
- Primary amines have one alkyl or aryl group attached to the nitrogen atom (R-NH2).
- Secondary amines have two alkyl or aryl groups attached to the nitrogen atom (R2-NH).

2. **Using Carbylamine Reaction**:
- The carbylamine reaction is a specific test that can be used to distinguish between primary and secondary amines.
- When a primary amine reacts with chloroform (CHCl3) in the presence of a strong base (like KOH), it produces an isocyanide (carbylamine) which has a characteristic foul smell.
- Secondary amines do not produce this reaction.

3. **Performing the Test**:
- Take a small amount of the amine (either primary or secondary) and mix it with chloroform and a strong base.
- If a foul-smelling isocyanide is produced, the amine is a primary amine.
- If there is no reaction, the amine is a secondary amine.

4. **Other Tests for Reference**:
- While carbylamine reaction is the most definitive for distinguishing between primary and secondary amines, other tests such as Hofmann degradation can also be used to identify amines but are not specific for distinguishing between primary and secondary amines.

### Conclusion:
The primary method to distinguish between primary and secondary amines is the carbylamine reaction, where only primary amines yield a positive result.

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