Question

Predict the product formed from the reaction of formaldehyde and ammonia

• A. Hexamethylenetetramine
• B. Bakelite
• C. Urea
• D. Triethylenetetramine

Answer 1

The correct option is A

Hexamethylenetetramine

Explanation for the correct Answer:

Option (A) Hexamethylene tetramine

• The Formaldehyde reacts with ammonia to form Hexamethylene tetramine.

$\underset{\mathrm{Formaldehyde}}{6\mathrm{HCHO}}+\underset{\mathrm{Ammonia}}{4{\mathrm{NH}}_3}\to \underset{\mathrm{Hexamethylene}\mathrm{tetramine}}{\left({\left({\mathrm{CH}}_2\right)}_6{\mathrm{N}}_4\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Water}}{6{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}}$

• Since Ammonia is the basic medium, neutralization also takes place when the Formaldehyde reacts with Ammonia by heating up Ammonia bicarbonate or Ammonium carbonate to generate Ammonia vapors.
• The Ammonia vapors formed to neutralize the Formaldehyde gas which creates a by-product called Hexamethylene tetramine.
• The structure of Hexamethylene tetramine is;

• Hexamethylene tetramine is also known as Methenamine, Hexamine, or Urotropin.

Hence option (A) is correct.