Amines make up a homologous series which comprises an alkyl chain with -NH2 attached to the

chain. This can be in any position of the chain.

The name of each compound comes from the longest alkyl chain followed by -ylamine.
An alternative acceptable name takes the amine group as a prefix amino-. A locant is used in
the event of ambiguity.

1-Butylamine or 1-aminobutane
Amines may be primary, secondary or tertiary, depending on the number of alkyl chains
attached to the nitrogen atom.


(primary)
ethylamine
(secondary)
dimethylamine
(tertiary)
trimethylamine