CH₃CONH₂ + H₂SO₄ → CH₃COOH + (NH₄)₂SO₄
Here's a breakdown of the reaction:
* Acetamide (CH₃CONH₂) : This is the starting compound, a simple amide.
* Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄): This acts as a strong acid, providing protons (H⁺) for the reaction.
* Acetic acid (CH₃COOH): This is a carboxylic acid formed by the hydrolysis of the amide bond.
* Ammonium sulfate ((NH₄)₂SO₄): This is a salt formed by the combination of ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) and sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻).
Mechanism:
The reaction proceeds through a nucleophilic attack by the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom of acetamide on a proton from sulfuric acid. This protonation makes the amide more susceptible to hydrolysis. Water molecules then attack the carbonyl carbon, breaking the C-N bond and forming acetic acid and ammonium ions. These ions then combine with the sulfate ion to form ammonium sulfate.
Note: This reaction is an example of acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of an amide.