Which base is most powerful?

One key factor contributing to benzylamine's high basicity is that aliphatic amines, in general, are more basic than aromatic amines. Aliphatic amines possess a different arrangement of electrons compared to aromatic amines, which affects their ability to act as bases.

An aliphatic amine is characterized by the presence of an amine group connected to an alkyl group. The alkyl group, which is composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms, plays a crucial role in determining the chemical properties of aliphatic amines.

Amines exhibit basic properties as a result of the lone pair of electrons present on them. This lone pair allows amines to accept protons, thereby functioning as bases in chemical reactions.

Specifically, an alkyl group functions as an electron-donating group. This means that it tends to donate electrons to the amine group, thereby enhancing its ability to accept protons and act as a base. This electron-donating property is one of the reasons why aliphatic amines are more basic than aromatic amines.

Benzylamine, with the chemical formula C6H5CH2NH2, stands out as the most potent base among amines. This is attributed to the specific structural characteristics that influence its basicity.