Regarding the competitive hydration and basicity of amines in aqueous media, which of the following — Amines Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

$RNH_3^+$ has three distinct hydrogens available for dynamic H-bonding, providing maximum hydration stabilization enthalpy compared to $R_3NH^+$, which has only one (A is true). Bulky alkyl groups sterically block polar water molecules from properly solvating the core cation (B is true). Triethylamine ($3^\circ$) is weaker than diethylamine ($2^\circ$) in water because the massive decrease in hydration energy and increase in steric bulk easily outweigh the +I effect of the third ethyl group (C is true). Statement D is blatantly false as it completely ignores the mandatory solvation and steric effects present in aqueous solutions.