Triethylamine (N(C2H5)3) is a tertiary amine that reacts with water, although it does not protonate to form a simple acid-base reaction like many other amines. When triethylamine is mixed with water, it can form an equilibrium with triethylammonium hydroxide. The equation representing this reaction can be written as:
N(C2H5)3 + H2O ⇌ N(C2H5)3H+ + OH-
In this equation, triethylamine accepts a proton from water, forming triethylammonium ion (N(C2H5)3H+) and hydroxide ions (OH-). This reaction highlights the basic nature of triethylamine, which can function as a weak base in water by accepting protons.