Determine the ammonium ion formed in the following reaction between diethylamine and hydrobromic acid.

• A.
• B.
• C.
• D.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the reactants: Diethylamine (C4H11N) and hydrobromic acid (HBr). Diethylamine is a secondary amine with the structure (C2H5)2NH.
2. Understand the reaction: Diethylamine will react with hydrobromic acid to form an ammonium salt. The nitrogen atom in diethylamine has a lone pair of electrons that can accept a proton (H+) from hydrobromic acid.
3. Write the balanced chemical equation: (C2H5)2NH + HBr → (C2H5)2NH2+ + Br-. This shows the formation of the ammonium ion and the bromide ion.
4. Determine the structure of the ammonium ion: The nitrogen atom in diethylamine will gain a hydrogen ion (H+) from hydrobromic acid, resulting in the ammonium ion (C2H5)2NH2+.
5. Analyze the images: The correct ammonium ion structure should have a positively charged nitrogen atom with three hydrogen atoms and two ethyl groups attached. The image with the structure (C2H5)2NH2+ and a positive charge on nitrogen is the correct representation.