Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry

Sodium amide (sodamide): Na+ -NH2. The sodium salt of the conjugate base of ammonia. A strong base (NH3 pKa = 38). Not to be confused with the functional group also called amide (O=C-N).

Molecular structure of the amide anion.


Sodium amide is a strong base. For example, it can be used as shown here to deprotonate a terminal alkyne such as propyne to produce an alkyne anion.