Primary aliphatic amine with water to form alkaline solution

• The reaction between butylamine (a primary aliphatic amine) and water will produce a butylammonium ion and a hydroxide ion. This reaction is reversible.
• The reaction between butylamine and water is able to occur because the nitrogen atom in butylamine can use its lone pairs to form a dative covalent bond with the hydrogen of a water molecule.
• In the reaction of butylamine (primary aliphatic amine) and water, butylamine acts as a Bronsted-Lowry base. This is because the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen is readily available to form a dative covalent bond with H+ (i.e. accept a proton).