[nj_bartel]

I feel like I'm blanking out on an easy acid/base question.

Methylammonium⁺Cl^- + NaOH  => NaCl + H₂O + Methylamine

Correct or no?

My reasoning was oxygen-sodium bonding electrons attack oxygen, forming sodium cation and hydroxide anion.  The hydroxide anion's lone pair then attacks one of the ammonium hydrogens, which has its bonding electrons shift to the hydrogen, forming water and methylamine.

Is this right or where am I going wrong?

[azmanam]

NaOH dissociates in solution to Na⁺ and OH^-.  There is no initial attack on oxygen.  Its an ionic salt and the ions will simply dissociate.  When hydroxide attacks the ammonium cation, the electrons from oxygen form a new sigma bond with a proton.  The electrons that were in the N-H bond shift to the nitrogen atom to yield the products.

Right idea, just tighten up the wording a bit.

[nj_bartel]

Ok, that makes sense.  Thanks.  As I move on in chem my fundamental concepts slip