Arrange the following:

In decreasing order of the pKb values:

C₂H₅NH₂, C₆H₅NHCH₃, (C₂H₅)₂NH and C₆H₅NH₂

Pk_b value is the negative logarithm of the basicity constant (K_b) .i.e., pK_b = -logK_b

Evidently, smaller the value of pK_b , stronger is the base (strong tendency to donate electrons)

Aliphatic amines(R-NH₂) are more basic(tendency to donate electrons) than aromatic amines(C₆H₅NH₂) because of the following reasons:

⇒ In aliphatic amines, alkyl groups are present. Alkyl groups are electron releasing groups, hence they increase the elecron density of N-atom and thus is easily available to donate electrons. This poperty makes aliphatic amines more basic.

⇒ In aromatic amines, aryl group is present. Aromatic amine shows resonance:

As a result of resonance, the lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom gets delocalized over benzene ring. As a result, electron density on the nitrogen decreases and thus is less easily available to donate electrons making it less basic.

Hence aliphatic amines(R-NH₂) are more basic than aromatic amines(C₆H₅NH₂)

Now, in C₂H₅NH₂, one ethyl group(alkyl) is present and in (C₂H₅)₂NH₂ two ethyl groups are present. As we know that more alkyl groups are

present, more basic will be the amine.

Hence, (C₂H₅)₂NH₂ is more basic than the C₂H₅NH₂

Now in C₆H₅NH₂, due to delocalisation of lone pair of electrons of the N-atom over the benzene ring, makes it less basic than (C₂H₅)₂NH₂ and C₂H₅NH₂

Now, in C₆H₅NHCH_3, due to presence of CH₃ group, makes it more basic than C₆H₅NH₂ but less basic than (C₂H₅)₂NH₂ and C₂H₅NH₂ due to the presence of aromatic ring which is responsible for the delocalisation of lone pair of electrons of N-atom over the benzene ring.

Combining all these facts, the relative basic strength of these four amines decrease in the order:

(C₂H₅)₂NH₂ > C₂H₅NH₂ > C₆H₅NHCH₃ > C₆H₅NH₂

Since, a stronger base has a lower pk_b value, therefore, pK_b values decrease in the reverse order:

C₆H₅NH₂ > C₆H₅NHCH₃ > C₂H₅NH₂ > (C₂H₅)₂NH₂