Anilines Properties

The properties of aniline are tabulated below:

The above properties of aniline can be classified into physical properties and chemical properties of benzene:

Physical Properties of Aniline

The physical properties of aniline is mentioned below:

• Appearance: Aniline is generally colorless to pale yellow.
• Odor: Aniline smells like fishy, also amine-like odors.
• State: Aniline it liquid at room temperature.
• Solubility: Slightly soluble in water, More soluble in organic solvent like alcohol, benzene, chloroform, and acetone.
• Density: 1.0297 g/mL which is denser than water.
• Boiling Point: Boils at 184°C
• Melting Point: Melting point −6.30 °C

Chemical Properties of Aniline

The chemical properties of aniline is discussed below:

Basicity of Aniline: Aniline is a weak base in nature. Its pKa value is around 4.6. It’s basicity is lower than aliphatic amines due to the electron-withdrawing nature of benzene ring that decreases the availability of lone pair of electron on N atom for protonation.

Nucleophilic: The lone pair on the N atom of aniline make aniline to be attack by electrophiles.

Oxidation-sensitive: Undergoes oxidation in strong acidic conditions and form unwanted side products.

Reactivity of Aniline: The reactivity of aniline is discussed below:

• Aromatic electrophilic substitution: The benzene ring easily undergoes electrophilic substitution reactions because of the activating effect of the amino group. This allows various functional groups like halogens, nitro groups, and alkyl groups to attach to benzene ring at different positions.
• Diazotization: Aniline do diazotization reactions when it reacts with nitrous acid(HNO2) to form a diazonium salt. This reaction is widely used in making dyes and other aromatic compound.

Anilines are organic aromatic compounds that are derived from benzene with an amino group (NH₂) joined to it. Because of its reactivity and structure, it plays a crucial role in the making of various industrial chemicals, which increases the use of aniline in pharmaceuticals, dyes, and other places in modern chemistry.