Which description identifies the atom central to amine or amide groups?

Which description identifies the atom central to amine or amide groups?

• A. C
• B. O
• C. N (amide has C=O); -NH2 / -NHR / -NR2
• D. S

Answer: (C)

Nitrogen is the central atom in both amine and amide groups. In amines, the group is written as R-NH2, R-NHR, or R-NR2, showing nitrogen bonded to hydrogen(s) and carbon-containing substituents. In amides, nitrogen sits next to a carbonyl carbon, giving structures like R-CO-NR2, where the C=O defines the amide but the atom at the heart of the group is nitrogen. Because nitrogen is the common element that connects to one or more substituents in amines and to the carbonyl in amides, the description that highlights nitrogen and the typical -NH2 / -NHR / -NR2 patterns (and notes the carbonyl context for amides) best identifies the central atom.

Nitrogen is the central atom in both amine and amide groups. In amines, the group is written as R-NH2, R-NHR, or R-NR2, showing nitrogen bonded to hydrogen(s) and carbon-containing substituents. In amides, nitrogen sits next to a carbonyl carbon, giving structures like R-CO-NR2, where the C=O defines the amide but the atom at the heart of the group is nitrogen. Because nitrogen is the common element that connects to one or more substituents in amines and to the carbonyl in amides, the description that highlights nitrogen and the typical -NH2 / -NHR / -NR2 patterns (and notes the carbonyl context for amides) best identifies the central atom.