The reaction of trimethylamine in liquid hydrogen sulphide: an electrical conductivity study

Abstract

The electrical conductivity of trimethylamine solutions (2.26 × 10−4 to 2.89 × 10−1 mol L−1) in liquid hydrogen sulphide over the temperature range −72.5 °C to +25.0 °C has been measured. The data indicate that the trimethylamine behaves as a Brønsted base in liquid hydrogen sulphide [1] and is protonated to form trimethylammonium hydrogensulphide. The latter[Formula: see text]behaves as a normal weak electrolyte in a solvent of low to medium dielectric constant [Formula: see text]. The conductance data as a function of temperature also show that trimethylamine exists both as a hydrogen bonded complex with H2S and as an unassociated molecule in liquid H2S.