chemistry

TYPES OF CARBONS AND HYDROGENS

        CARBONS

Primary Carbon (1° – carbon) : It is bonded to just one another carbon or to no other carbon.

Secondary carbon (2° – carbon) : It is bonded to two other carbons.

Tertiary carbon (3° – carbon) – It is bonded to three other carbons.

Quaternary carbon (4° carbon) : It is bonded to four other carbons.

 HYDROGENS

Primary hydrogen : Hydrogen attached to primary carbon.

Secondary hydrogen : Hydrogen attached to secondary carbon.

Tertiary hydrogen : Hydrogen attached to tertiary carbon.

				1°
				CH3
1°	2°	3°		|	1°
Ex. CH3	− CH2	− CH	− C −		CH3
		|		|
		CH		CH3
		3		1°
		1°

In the above structure, five primary carbons, one secondary carbon, one tertiary carbon and one quaternary carbon are present. Similarly, the number of primary hydrogens – 15, secondary hydrogens – 2, tertiary hydrogen – 1, and there is no quaternary hydrogen.