Types of Carbon atom in Hydrocarbons (Alkanes)

Primary Carbon atom – A primary carbon is that carbon which is attach to one another carbon. They are denoted as 10 (Primary). 

Example :  In the following example the Red Carbon is only attached to Green carbon and vice versa; hence both are Primary (10 carbon)

  

 

Secondary Carbon atom – A secondary carbon is that carbon which is attach to two other carbons. They are denoted as 20 (Secondary). 

Example : In the following example both green labelled carbons are primary carbons as they are directly attach to only red labelled carbon where as the red labelled carbon is secondary carbon as it is directly attach to both green labelled carbon atom.

 

Tertiary Carbon atom – A tertiary carbon is that carbon which is attach to three other carbon. They are denoted as 30 (Tertiary).

Example : In the following example red labelled carbon is tertiary carbon as it is directly attach to three green carbon atoms where as the green labeled carbons are primary carbons as they are directly  attached to only one carbon i.e. red carbon.

Quaternary Carbon atom - A Quaternary carbon is that carbon which is attach to four other carbon. They are denoted as 40 (Quaternary).

Example: In the following example the red labelled carbon is Quaternary carbon atom as it is directly attached to four green labelled carbon atoms where as the green labelled carbon are primary carbons as directly attach to only red carbon.  

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