{"id":520,"date":"2010-06-16T20:29:05","date_gmt":"2010-06-16T18:29:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/masterorganicchemistry.wordpress.com\/?p=520"},"modified":"2026-04-22T10:21:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T15:21:33","slug":"1-2-3-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/2010\/06\/16\/1-2-3-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Quaternary In Organic Chemistry"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>How To Recognize Primary, Secondary, Tertiary (and sometimes Quaternary) Hydrocarbons, Carbocations, Alkyl Halides, Alcohols, Amines, and Amides.<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Primary (1\u00b0), secondary (2\u00b0), tertiary (3\u00b0) and quaternary (4\u00b0) alkyl carbons are defined according to the number of carbons <strong>directly attached\u00a0<\/strong>to that carbon.<\/li>\n<li>Similar nomenclature can be used for carbocations. Primary (1\u00b0), secondary (2\u00b0), and tertiary (3\u00b0) carbocations are defined according to the number of <strong>carbons<\/strong> directly attached to the <strong>carbon bearing the positive charge.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Primary (1\u00b0), secondary (2\u00b0), and tertiary (3\u00b0) alcohols are defined according to the number of <strong>carbons<\/strong> <strong>directly attached<\/strong> to the <strong>carbon bearing the hydroxyl group.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Primary (1\u00b0), secondary (2\u00b0), and tertiary (3\u00b0) alkyl halides are defined similarly to alcohols.<\/li>\n<li>Amines and amides are defined according to the number of carbons directly attached to the <strong>nitrogen\u00a0<\/strong>atom.<\/li>\n<li>This classification system only applies to sp<sup>3<\/sup> hybridized carbons (alkyl).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-38653\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/0-summary-primary-secondary-tertiary-quaternary-in-organic-chemistry-alcohols-alkyl-halides-amines-carbocations.gif\" alt=\"summary-primary secondary tertiary quaternary in organic chemistry alcohols alkyl halides amines carbocations\" width=\"640\" height=\"463\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#one\">Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Quaternary Alkyl Hydrocarbons<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#two\">Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Carbocations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#three\">Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Alcohols<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#four\">Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Alkyl Halides<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#five\">The Special Case of Methane and Methyl<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#six\">Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Amines (and Quaternary Ammonium Salts)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#seven\">Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Amides<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#notes\">Notes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#quiz\">Quiz Yourself!<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#references\">(Advanced) References and Further Reading<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><a id=\"one\"><\/a>1. Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary Alkyl Hydrocarbons<\/h2>\n<p>There are four possible bonding patterns for alkyl carbons in hydrocarbons.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Primary carbons (1\u00b0)<\/strong>, are carbons attached to <em>one<\/em> other carbon and three hydrogens. Also known as a <strong>methyl<\/strong> (CH<sub>3<\/sub>) carbon or &#8220;methyl group&#8221;.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Secondary carbons (2\u00b0)<\/strong> are attached to two other carbons and two hydrogens. Also known as methylene (CH<sub>2<\/sub>) carbons.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tertiary carbons (3\u00b0)<\/strong> are attached to three other carbons and one hydrogen. Also known as methine (R<sub>3<\/sub>CH) carbons.<\/li>\n<li>Finally, <strong>quaternary carbons (4\u00b0)<\/strong>\u00a0are attached to <em>four<\/em> other carbons.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can&#8217;t go higher than that!\u00a0 To have five substituents, you&#8217;d need 10 electrons around carbon, a clear violation of the octet rule. When people <em>do <\/em>write 5 covalent bonds around carbon, it&#8217;s a mistake. [<a href=\"#noteone\">Note 1<\/a>]<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-28755\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/1-definition-of-primary-secondary-tertiary-quaternary-carbons-attached-to-1-2-3-or-4-carbonss.gif\" alt=\"definition of primary secondary tertiary quaternary carbons-attached to 1 2 3 or 4 carbons\" width=\"640\" height=\"390\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Ready to flex your muscles in a test? See if you can properly identify all the labelled carbons on <strong>testosterone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wq-quiz-wrapper\" data-id=\"34805\"><style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"wq-flip-custom-css\">.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34805\"] {\n--wq-question-width: 100%;\n--wq-question-color: #009cff;\n--wq-question-height: auto;\n--wq-font-color: #444;\n}\n\n\t\t\t.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34805\"] {\n\t\t\t\t--wq-question-width: 600px;\n\t\t\t}\n\n\t\t\t@media screen and (max-width: 600px) {\n\t\t\t\t.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34805\"] .wq_singleQuestionWrapper { width:100% !important; height:auto !important; }\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t<\/style><!-- wp quiz -->\n<div id=\"wp-quiz-34805\" class=\"wq_quizCtr single flip_quiz wq-quiz wq-quiz-34805 wq-quiz-flip wq-layout-single wq-skin-traditional wq-should-show-correct-answer\" data-quiz-id=\"34805\">\n<div class=\"wq-questions wq_questionsCtr\">\n\t<div class=\"wq-question wq_singleQuestionWrapper wq-question-recxv\" data-id=\"recxv\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"item_top\">\n\t\t<div class=\"title_container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wq_questionTextCtr\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wq-question-title\"><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card \">\n\t\t<div class=\"front\" >\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-images\/2334-Front.gif\" \/>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"top-desc\">Click to Flip<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"back\" >\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-images\/2334-Reverse.gif\" \/>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/\/ wp quiz-->\n<\/div><!-- End .wq-quiz-wrapper -->\n<h2><a id=\"two\"><\/a>2. Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Carbocations<\/h2>\n<p>Carbocations can also be classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary according to the number of carbons <strong>directly attached<\/strong> to the positively charged carbon.<\/p>\n<p>Quaternary carbocations don&#8217;t exist. The problem is that the extra p-orbital on carbon would bring the number of orbitals on carbon to 5, violating the octet rule.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-28756\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/2-definition-of-primary-secondary-tertiary-carbocations.gif\" alt=\"definition of primary secondary tertiary carbocations\" width=\"640\" height=\"349\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>See if you can properly classify the following carbocations as primary, secondary, or tertiary.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wq-quiz-wrapper\" data-id=\"34806\"><style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"wq-flip-custom-css\">.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34806\"] {\n--wq-question-width: 100%;\n--wq-question-color: #009cff;\n--wq-question-height: auto;\n--wq-font-color: #444;\n}\n\n\t\t\t.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34806\"] {\n\t\t\t\t--wq-question-width: 600px;\n\t\t\t}\n\n\t\t\t@media screen and (max-width: 600px) {\n\t\t\t\t.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34806\"] .wq_singleQuestionWrapper { width:100% !important; height:auto !important; }\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t<\/style><!-- wp quiz -->\n<div id=\"wp-quiz-34806\" class=\"wq_quizCtr single flip_quiz wq-quiz wq-quiz-34806 wq-quiz-flip wq-layout-single wq-skin-traditional wq-should-show-correct-answer\" data-quiz-id=\"34806\">\n<div class=\"wq-questions wq_questionsCtr\">\n\t<div class=\"wq-question wq_singleQuestionWrapper wq-question-8dpxy\" data-id=\"8dpxy\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"item_top\">\n\t\t<div class=\"title_container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wq_questionTextCtr\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wq-question-title\"><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card \">\n\t\t<div class=\"front\" >\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-images\/2347-Front.gif\" \/>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"top-desc\">Click to Flip<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"back\" >\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-images\/2347-Reverse.gif\" \/>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/\/ wp quiz-->\n<\/div><!-- End .wq-quiz-wrapper -->\n<p>It&#8217;s important to note that the terms primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary only apply for <strong>alkyl<\/strong> carbons and carbocations. When the carbon participates in pi-bonding, different names are applied.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-28757\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3-primary-secondary-tertiary-does-not-apply-to-alkenyl-alkynyl-aryl-carbons.gif\" alt=\"primary secondary tertiary does not apply to alkenyl alkynyl aryl carbons\" width=\"640\" height=\"379\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"three\"><\/a>3. Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Alcohols<\/h2>\n<p>Primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols are named according to the number of carbons directly attached to the C-OH carbon. <span style=\"color: #993366;\"><em>(This carbon is sometimes known as the carbinol carbon).\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>There is no such thing as a quaternary alcohol because that would require having 5 bonds to carbon.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-28758\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/4-definition-of-primary-secondary-tertiary-alcohols.gif\" alt=\"definition of primary secondary tertiary alcohols\" width=\"640\" height=\"288\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>See if you can classify the following alcohols as primary, secondary, or tertiary.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wq-quiz-wrapper\" data-id=\"34807\"><style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"wq-flip-custom-css\">.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34807\"] {\n--wq-question-width: 100%;\n--wq-question-color: #009cff;\n--wq-question-height: auto;\n--wq-font-color: #444;\n}\n\n\t\t\t.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34807\"] {\n\t\t\t\t--wq-question-width: 600px;\n\t\t\t}\n\n\t\t\t@media screen and (max-width: 600px) {\n\t\t\t\t.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34807\"] .wq_singleQuestionWrapper { width:100% !important; height:auto !important; }\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t<\/style><!-- wp quiz -->\n<div id=\"wp-quiz-34807\" class=\"wq_quizCtr single flip_quiz wq-quiz wq-quiz-34807 wq-quiz-flip wq-layout-single wq-skin-traditional wq-should-show-correct-answer\" data-quiz-id=\"34807\">\n<div class=\"wq-questions wq_questionsCtr\">\n\t<div class=\"wq-question wq_singleQuestionWrapper wq-question-z2i9o\" data-id=\"z2i9o\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"item_top\">\n\t\t<div class=\"title_container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wq_questionTextCtr\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wq-question-title\"><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card \">\n\t\t<div class=\"front\" >\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-images\/2348-Front.gif\" \/>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"top-desc\">Click to Flip<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"back\" >\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-images\/2348-Reverse.gif\" \/>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/\/ wp quiz-->\n<\/div><!-- End .wq-quiz-wrapper -->\n<h2><a id=\"four\"><\/a>4. Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Alkyl Halides<\/h2>\n<p>Alkyl halides have an sp<sup>3<\/sup> hybridized carbon directly attached to a halogen.<\/p>\n<p>Like alcohols, they are named according to the number of carbons directly attached to the carbon containing the halogen.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-28759\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/5-definition-of-primary-secondary-tertiary-alkyl-halides.gif\" alt=\"-definition of primary secondary tertiary alkyl halides\" width=\"640\" height=\"290\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>See if you can properly classify the following alkyl halides as primary, secondary, or tertiary.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wq-quiz-wrapper\" data-id=\"34808\"><style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"wq-flip-custom-css\">.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34808\"] {\n--wq-question-width: 100%;\n--wq-question-color: #009cff;\n--wq-question-height: auto;\n--wq-font-color: #444;\n}\n\n\t\t\t.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34808\"] {\n\t\t\t\t--wq-question-width: 600px;\n\t\t\t}\n\n\t\t\t@media screen and (max-width: 600px) {\n\t\t\t\t.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34808\"] .wq_singleQuestionWrapper { width:100% !important; height:auto !important; }\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t<\/style><!-- wp quiz -->\n<div id=\"wp-quiz-34808\" class=\"wq_quizCtr single flip_quiz wq-quiz wq-quiz-34808 wq-quiz-flip wq-layout-single wq-skin-traditional wq-should-show-correct-answer\" data-quiz-id=\"34808\">\n<div class=\"wq-questions wq_questionsCtr\">\n\t<div class=\"wq-question wq_singleQuestionWrapper wq-question-ojb3y\" data-id=\"ojb3y\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"item_top\">\n\t\t<div class=\"title_container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wq_questionTextCtr\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wq-question-title\"><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card \">\n\t\t<div class=\"front\" >\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-images\/2349-Front.gif\" \/>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"top-desc\">Click to Flip<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"back\" >\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-images\/2349-Reverse.gif\" \/>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/\/ wp quiz-->\n<\/div><!-- End .wq-quiz-wrapper -->\n<p>Just to give you fair warning, being able to classify alkyl halides as primary, secondary or tertiary is a<strong> key skill<\/strong>. When you encounter nucleophilic substitution and elimination reactions, you&#8217;ll see that the reactivity of alkyl halides is significantly affected by their substitution pattern.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"five\"><\/a>5. A Special Case: Methane And Methyl Groups<\/h2>\n<p>Up to this point we&#8217;ve left out the special case of methane, the only hydrocarbon which lacks any carbon-carbon bonds.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-28760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/6-naming-of-methane-methyl-carbocation-methyl-alcohol-methyl-halides.gif\" alt=\"naming of methane methyl carbocation methyl alcohol methyl halides\" width=\"640\" height=\"280\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Methane, the methyl carbocation, methanol, and methyl halides are distinct from the &#8220;primary, secondary, tertiary&#8221; naming convention.<\/p>\n<h2><a id=\"six\"><\/a>6. Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Amines (and Quaternary Ammonium Salts)<\/h2>\n<p>Next, we come to amines, which are named a little bit differently than the previous examples. [<a href=\"#notetwo\">Note 2<\/a>]<\/p>\n<p>Amines are named according to the number of\u00a0<strong>carbons<\/strong> attached to the\u00a0<strong>nitrogen<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Primary<\/strong>, <strong>secondary<\/strong>, and <strong>tertiary<\/strong> amines are nitrogens bound to <strong>one<\/strong>, <strong>two<\/strong> and <strong>three<\/strong> carbons, respectively.<\/p>\n<p>It is possible for the nitrogen to be bound to a fourth carbon. This species is known as an alkylammonium salt. It is not technically an amine since it lacks a lone pair on nitrogen and therefore cannot act as a Lewis base.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-28761\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/7-definition-of-primary-secondary-tertiary-amines.gif\" alt=\"definition of primary secondary tertiary amines\" width=\"640\" height=\"288\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Remember that the positive formal charge on nitrogen doesn&#8217;t imply that there is an empty p orbital there! Always assume a full octet on positively charged nitrogen and oxygen.<\/p>\n<p>See if you can tell the difference between these primary, secondary and tertiary amines.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wq-quiz-wrapper\" data-id=\"34809\"><style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"wq-flip-custom-css\">.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34809\"] {\n--wq-question-width: 100%;\n--wq-question-color: #009cff;\n--wq-question-height: auto;\n--wq-font-color: #444;\n}\n\n\t\t\t.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34809\"] {\n\t\t\t\t--wq-question-width: 600px;\n\t\t\t}\n\n\t\t\t@media screen and (max-width: 600px) {\n\t\t\t\t.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34809\"] .wq_singleQuestionWrapper { width:100% !important; height:auto !important; }\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t<\/style><!-- wp quiz -->\n<div id=\"wp-quiz-34809\" class=\"wq_quizCtr single flip_quiz wq-quiz wq-quiz-34809 wq-quiz-flip wq-layout-single wq-skin-traditional wq-should-show-correct-answer\" data-quiz-id=\"34809\">\n<div class=\"wq-questions wq_questionsCtr\">\n\t<div class=\"wq-question wq_singleQuestionWrapper wq-question-2c2u5\" data-id=\"2c2u5\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"item_top\">\n\t\t<div class=\"title_container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wq_questionTextCtr\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wq-question-title\"><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card \">\n\t\t<div class=\"front\" >\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-images\/2350-Front.gif\" \/>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"top-desc\">Click to Flip<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"back\" >\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-images\/2350-Reverse.gif\" \/>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/\/ wp quiz-->\n<\/div><!-- End .wq-quiz-wrapper -->\n<h2><a id=\"seven\"><\/a>7. Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Amides<\/h2>\n<p>The naming of amides is similar to that of amines.<\/p>\n<p>A primary amide has the nitrogen bonded to one carbon &#8211; the carbonyl carbon.<\/p>\n<p>Secondary and tertiary amides have the nitrogen bonded to two and three carbons respectively. <span style=\"color: #993366;\">(<em>There is an amide counterpart to a quaternary ammonium salt, but it goes by a different name and you might go through introductory organic chemistry without ever seeing an example. &#8211; <a href=\"#notethree\">Note 3<\/a>)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-28762\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/8-definition-of-primary-secondary-tertiary-amides.gif\" alt=\"definition of primary secondary tertiary amides\" width=\"640\" height=\"266\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Quiz yourself on naming amides, here.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wq-quiz-wrapper\" data-id=\"34810\"><style type=\"text\/css\" id=\"wq-flip-custom-css\">.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34810\"] {\n--wq-question-width: 100%;\n--wq-question-color: #009cff;\n--wq-question-height: auto;\n--wq-font-color: #444;\n}\n\n\t\t\t.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34810\"] {\n\t\t\t\t--wq-question-width: 600px;\n\t\t\t}\n\n\t\t\t@media screen and (max-width: 600px) {\n\t\t\t\t.wq-quiz-wrapper[data-id=\"34810\"] .wq_singleQuestionWrapper { width:100% !important; height:auto !important; }\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t<\/style><!-- wp quiz -->\n<div id=\"wp-quiz-34810\" class=\"wq_quizCtr single flip_quiz wq-quiz wq-quiz-34810 wq-quiz-flip wq-layout-single wq-skin-traditional wq-should-show-correct-answer\" data-quiz-id=\"34810\">\n<div class=\"wq-questions wq_questionsCtr\">\n\t<div class=\"wq-question wq_singleQuestionWrapper wq-question-4gy8g\" data-id=\"4gy8g\">\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"item_top\">\n\t\t<div class=\"title_container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wq_questionTextCtr\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wq-question-title\"><\/h4>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card \">\n\t\t<div class=\"front\" >\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-images\/2351-Front.gif\" \/>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t<span class=\"top-desc\">Click to Flip<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"back\" >\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-images\/2351-Reverse.gif\" \/>\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/\/ wp quiz-->\n<\/div><!-- End .wq-quiz-wrapper -->\n<hr \/>\n<h2><a id=\"notes\"><\/a>Notes<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-articles\"><p><strong>Related Articles<\/strong><\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/2011\/06\/27\/hidden-hydrogens-hidden-lone-pairs-hidden-counterions\/\" class=\"\"><span>Hidden Hydrogens, Hidden Lone Pairs, Hidden Counterions<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/2023\/01\/18\/where-will-substitution-elimination-reactions-occur\/\" class=\"\"><span>Identifying Where Substitution and Elimination Reactions Happen<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/2011\/06\/20\/deciphering-what-the-brackets-mean\/\" class=\"\"><span>Condensed Formulas: Deciphering What the Brackets Mean<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/2011\/11\/10\/dont-be-futyl-learn-the-butyls\/\" class=\"\"><span>Don\u2019t Be Futyl, Learn The Butyls<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/tips\/find-that-which-is-hidden\/\" class=\"\"><span>Find That Which Is Hidden<\/span><\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/2010\/09\/24\/how-to-calculate-formal-charge\/\" class=\"\"><span>Formal Charge<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<p><strong><a id=\"noteone\"><\/a>Note 1<\/strong>.\u00a0 These are often called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/2010\/08\/27\/common-mistakes-pentavalent-carbon\/\">Texas carbons<\/a> because it resembles a star and because, y&#8217;know, &#8220;everything is bigger in Texas&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a id=\"notetwo\"><\/a>Note 2.\u00a0<\/strong>Note that methylamine is a primary amine, but methyl alcohol is not a primary alcohol.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a id=\"notethree\"><\/a>Note 3. <\/strong>These are called acylammonium salts.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-28763\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/F1-Structure-of-an-Acylammonium-salt.gif\" alt=\"Structure of an Acylammonium salt\" width=\"640\" height=\"181\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong><a id=\"quiz\"><\/a>Quiz Yourself!<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36214 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-previews\/2352-Front-Image-Only.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/moc-membership\/\"><strong>Become a MOC member<\/strong><\/a> to see the clickable quiz with answers on the back.<\/p>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36214 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-previews\/3040-Front-Image-Only.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/moc-membership\/\"><strong>Become a MOC member<\/strong><\/a> to see the clickable quiz with answers on the back.<\/p>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36214 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-previews\/3041-Front-Image-Only.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/moc-membership\/\"><strong>Become a MOC member<\/strong><\/a> to see the clickable quiz with answers on the back.<\/p>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36214 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-previews\/3047-Front-Image-Only.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/moc-membership\/\"><strong>Become a MOC member<\/strong><\/a> to see the clickable quiz with answers on the back.<\/p>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36214 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-previews\/3048-Front-Image-Only.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/moc-membership\/\"><strong>Become a MOC member<\/strong><\/a> to see the clickable quiz with answers on the back.<\/p>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36214 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-previews\/3694-Front-Image-Only.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/moc-membership\/\"><strong>Become a MOC member<\/strong><\/a> to see the clickable quiz with answers on the back.<\/p>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36214 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-previews\/3693-Front-Image-Only.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/moc-membership\/\"><strong>Become a MOC member<\/strong><\/a> to see the clickable quiz with answers on the back.<\/p>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-36214 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/quiz-previews\/3692-Front-Image-Only.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.masterorganicchemistry.com\/moc-membership\/\"><strong>Become a MOC member<\/strong><\/a> to see the clickable quiz with answers on the back.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong><a id=\"references\"><\/a>(Advanced) References and Further Reading<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Some IUPAC definitions on nomenclature:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/goldbook.iupac.org\/terms\/view\/A00204\">Alcohols<\/a>. From the IUPAC Gold Book.<br \/>\n<strong>DOI: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1351\/goldbook.A00204\">10.1351\/goldbook.A00204<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/goldbook.iupac.org\/terms\/view\/A00274\">Amines<\/a>. From the IUPAC Gold Book.<br \/>\n<strong>DOI: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1351\/goldbook.A00274\">10.1351\/goldbook.A00274<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/goldbook.iupac.org\/terms\/view\/A00266\">Amides<\/a>. From the IUPAC Gold Book.<br \/>\n<strong>DOI:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/goldbook.iupac.org\/terms\/view\/A00266\">10.1351\/goldbook.A00266<\/a><br \/>\nNote that IUPAC&#8217;s definition of primary, secondary, and tertiary amides is not the definition of primary, secondary, and tertiary amides that is in colloquial use.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How To Recognize Primary, Secondary, Tertiary (and sometimes Quaternary) Hydrocarbons, Carbocations, Alkyl Halides, Alcohols, Amines, and Amides. Primary (1\u00b0), secondary (2\u00b0), tertiary (3\u00b0) and quaternary <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":38653,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1408],"tags":[167,299,171,766,242,608,765,607,606],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alkanes-nomenclature","tag-alcohols","tag-alkyl-halides","tag-amides","tag-amines","tag-nomenclature","tag-primary","tag-quaternary","tag-secondary","tag-tertiary"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary in Organic Chemistry<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Primary carbons, are carbons attached to one other carbon. 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