Which among the following has highest basic strength?
Which among the following has highest basic strength?
Ammonia
Ethylamine
Diethylamine
Triethylamine
Solution
As a consequence of combined effect of inductive effect, steric effect and solvation, the secondary amines are the strongest bases among aliphatic amines in aqueous phase so the basic strength varies as: $2^{\circ}$ amine $\gt3^{\circ}$ amine $\gt1^{\circ}$ amine $\gt$ ammonia. Hence, among the given options, diethylamine ( $2^{\circ}$ ) has the highest basic strength.