Note 50 — Chapter IX · COMPOUNDS OF CARBON WITH OXYGEN AND NITROGEN

If, in general, compounds containing the radicle NH2 are called amides, some of the amines ought to be ranked with them; namely, the hydrocarbons CnH2m, in which part of the hydrogen is replaced by NH2; for instance, methylamine, CH3NH2, aniline, C6H5NH2, &c. In general the amines may be represented as ammonia in which part or all of the hydrogen is replaced by hydrocarbon radicles—as, for example, trimethylamine, N(CH3)3. They, like ammonia, combine with acids and form crystalline salts. Analogous substances are sometimes met with in nature, and bear the general name of alkaloids; such are, for instance, quinine in cinchona bark, nicotine in tobacco, &c.