15 Facts on H2SO4 + CH3NH2: What, How To Balance & FAQs

Colour change is an important criterion to cause a reaction. Let us see if this reaction shows any such changes.

Sulphuric acid,colourless, mostly exists with water due to its hygroscopic nature. Methyl amine, the simplest of primary amines, has a peculiar pungent odour. It appears as a colourless gas with very low boiling point of -6.0ºC. The reaction is performed at ambient temperature and may form variety of products.

This article will see how the reaction of these acids and bases happen, with their properties and description.

What is the product of H₂SO₄ and CH₃NH₂?

H₂SO₄ and CH₃NH₂ are reacted to form an addition complex of methyl ammoniated sulphate complex. The reaction equation is:

• H₂SO₄ + 2CH₃NH₂ → [CH₃NH₃]⁺ HSO₄^– → (CH₃NH₂)₂SO₄

What type of reaction is H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂?

The reaction of H₂SO₄ and CH₃NH₂ is a dissociation reaction as products formed dissociate to ions in the solution.

How to balance H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂?

Following are the rules to equal the above reaction scheme:

• H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ → (CH₃NH₂)₂SO₄
• Both the reaction and product side should be equal in atoms; keeping stoichiometry in check, multiply CH₃NH₂ with 2 to equal with the Methyl atoms of CH₃NH₂.
• The ionic equation form is already balanced.
• H₂SO₄ + 2CH₃NH₂ → [CH₃NH₃]⁺ HSO₄^–

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ Titration

The titration of H₂SO₄ and CH₃NH₂ will give noticeable results.

Apparatus

• Graduated burette
• Conical flask
• Volumetric flask
• Burette stands
• Sample beakers

Titre and Titrant

• CH₃NH₂ is used as the titrant, the substance to be analysed.
• H₂SO₄ is the titre, the concentration of which is known.

Indicator

Methyl Orange indicator is used for strong acid weak base titrations. It turns orange-red in an acidic environment while yellowish in a basic environment.

Procedure 

• In the conical flask, a standardised known CH₃NH₂ solution is taken and kept diluted.
• Burette is then filled with H₂SO₄ and clamped to the stand.
• Few drops of methyl orange indicator(pH= 2.9-4.6) is added.
• Near endpoint, a very happening colour change is noticed, turning the solution reddish.
• The equivalence point shows equal moles of acid and base have reacted but solution is still acidic.
• The volume of base used is applied to estimate the strength of the acid by the formula:
• V_CH3NH2 S_CH3NH2 = V_H2SO4 S_H2SO4

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ Net Ionic Equation

H₂SO₄ and CH₃NH₂ reaction has the following net ionic equation,

• H₂SO₄ + 2CH₃NH₂ + H₂O → [CH₃NH₃]⁺ HSO₄^– + H⁺ + OH^–

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ Conjugate Pairs

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ reaction has the following conjugate pairs,

• Conjugate base of H₂SO₄= HSO₄^–
• Conjugate base of H₂O= OH^–

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ Intermolecular Forces

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ reaction has the following intermoleculr forces,

• H₂SO₄ shows an ionic character in an aqueous medium.
• CH₃NH₂ is nucleophilic, so, the lone pair of electrons is reactive and the Van der Waals forces are weak too.
• In a watery medium, a cluster acid-base system of CH₃NH₂^.H₂SO₄(H₂O) is formed, but thermodynamically less favourable.

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ Reaction Enthalpy

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ reaction has no reaction enthalpy but it is believed the enthalpy is negative. The enthalpy information is as follows:

• Enthalpy of Formation of CH₃NH₂ = -47.1 kJ/mol
• Enthalpy of Formation of H₂SO₄ = -814 kJ/mol

Is H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ a Buffer Solution?

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ reaction cannot give a strong buffer solution  because it has a strong acid like sulphuric acid cannot be a part of the buffer.

Is H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ a Complete Reaction?

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ reaction can be called complete as,once equilibrium is reached, products are completely formed.

Is H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ an Exothermic Reaction?

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ reaction is exothermic with a negative enthalpy of reaction.

Is H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ a Redox Reaction?

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ reaction is not an actual redox reaction as no changes in oxidation states of both ions are observed at the product side .

Is H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ a Precipitation Reaction?

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ reaction is not a precipitation reaction because no precipitate is observed. Instead, there are possibilities of complexation or addition complex.

Is H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ a Reversible Reaction?

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ reaction is reversible in nature like most acid-base reactions, should we slightly change the conditions of the reaction medium.

Is H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ a Displacement Reaction?

H₂SO₄ + CH₃NH₂ reaction is not a double displacement reaction as the ions have not been replaced or interchanged in the product side.

Conclusion

H₂SO_4, a good oxidising agent, has a pH of 1.87 in a 10mM solution and shows high exothermicity in presence of water. Methyl amine is soluble in water, with a tendency to form H-bonds. In titration, the principle of reversibility applies when all moles of the base get reacted with the acid.

Neeloy Bhattacharya

Hello….Neeloy here! I have pursued a Master’ in Chemistry and am currently a Subject Matter Expert in this community. Science and reasoning feed my curiosity and I love to express whatever I see, in my words. Quiz addict. Let’s connect at LinkedIn.