What do the N's mean

[cmmurphy_4G]

What do the N's mean in the naming, and whats the significants of the number of Ns?

[Chem_Mod]

Please be more specific. Thank you.

[cmmurphy_4G]

Why does triethylamine have 2 N's in its name: N,N-diethylethanamine and then theres one N in N-Ethylpentane-1-amine? Do you add an N for each additional organic group?

[Chem_Mod]

N is used for secondary and tertiary amines where the nitrogen has more than one group attached to it. A primary amine would be something like NH₂CH₃ where only one group is attached. A secondary amine has two groups attached (CH₃NHCH₂CH₃). The higher priority group becomes the prefix of the amine and the lower priority groups are added as "N-groupname". In a tertiary amine, you use "N,N-" to indicate that it's tertiary by the fact that it has 2 additional attachments in addition to the highest priority group.