Organic acids and bases
Virtually all organic compounds contain hydrogen, but they are not all acids.
Many organic compounds have trivalent nitrogen with a nonbonding pair of electrons.
C-H and N-H bonds are generally not acidic in water.
O–H bonds are acidic if the oxygen is also bonded to a group that can delocalize negative charge (C=O or C6H5 as seen below).
O–H bonds are acidic if the oxygen is also bonded to a group that can delocalize negative charge (C=O or C6H5 as seen below).
increasing acidity of hydrogen bonded to O (O-H)  | ||||
CH3CH2O–H ethanol not acidic in water | HO–H water |  phenol v weak acid |  ethanoic acid weak acid | |
 ethyl amine weak base |  ammonia weak base |  aniline v weak base |  not basic in water | |
 increasing basicity of nitrogen(N:) | ||||
Many organic compounds have trivalent nitrogen with a nonbonding pair of electrons.
These compounds are usually basic unless the nitrogen is also bonded to C=O.
Note that groups that increase basicity (such as CH3CH2–) decrease acidity; and groups (such as C=O) that increase acidity decrease basicity.
Note that groups that increase basicity (such as CH3CH2–) decrease acidity; and groups (such as C=O) that increase acidity decrease basicity.