The carbylamine reaction is a characteristic chemical test strictly identifying primary amines. Whic — Amines Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

In the carbylamine test, chloroform ($CHCl_3$) reacts with a strong base ($KOH$). The base removes the acidic proton to form a trichloromethyl carbanion, which subsequently undergoes $\alpha$ -elimination of a chloride ion ($Cl^-$) to generate the highly reactive, neutral electrophile dichlorocarbene ($:CCl_2$). The primary amine nucleophilically attacks this carbene.