Diazotization of Primary Aliphatic Amines

Primary aliphatic amines react with nitrous acid to give diazonium salts. But the diazonium salts formed are unstable and decompose to give alcohols and nitrogen gas. Thus, ethanamine gives ethanol when subjected to this reaction.

Nitrous acid is an unstable compound and can not be stored, so it is prepared during the reaction by mixing sodium nitrite and hydrochloric acid.