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Chapter 3: Problem 40

Distinguish between primary, secondary and tertiary carbons.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Primary, secondary, and tertiary carbons are classified based on the number of carbon atoms they are connected to in an organic molecule. Primary carbon (1°) is attached to one other carbon and three hydrogen atoms, secondary carbon (2°) is attached to two other carbon atoms and two hydrogen atoms, and tertiary carbon (3°) is attached to three other carbon atoms and one hydrogen atom. In butane, the terminal carbon atoms are primary carbons, and the middle carbon atoms are secondary carbons. In isobutane, the central carbon atom is a tertiary carbon.

Step by step solution

01

Define primary, secondary, and tertiary carbons

Primary, secondary, and tertiary carbons are used to classify carbon atoms in an organic molecule based on the number of other carbon atoms they are connected to. 1. Primary carbon (1°): A carbon atom that is attached to only one other carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms. 2. Secondary carbon (2°): A carbon atom that is attached to two other carbon atoms and two hydrogen atoms. 3. Tertiary carbon (3°): A carbon atom that is attached to three other carbon atoms and one hydrogen atom. Now, let's illustrate each type of carbon using examples.
02

Identify primary carbons

To identify a primary carbon, look for carbon atoms that are connected to only one other carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms. Example: In butane (C₄H₁₀), the molecule is structured as CH₃-CH₂-CH₂-CH₃. The terminal carbon atoms (the leftmost and rightmost ones) are primary carbons because they are each connected to one other carbon atom and three hydrogen atoms.
03

Identify secondary carbons

To identify a secondary carbon, look for carbon atoms that are connected to two other carbon atoms and two hydrogen atoms. Example: Continuing with butane (C₄H₁₀), the molecule is structured as CH₃-CH₂-CH₂-CH₃. The middle two carbon atoms are secondary carbons because they are each connected to two other carbon atoms and two hydrogen atoms.
04

Identify tertiary carbons

To identify a tertiary carbon, look for carbon atoms that are connected to three other carbon atoms and one hydrogen atom. Example: In isobutane (C₄H₁₀), the molecule is structured as: CH₃ | CH₃-C-CH₃ | H The central carbon atom is a tertiary carbon because it is connected to three other carbon atoms and one hydrogen atom. Following the above method, you can easily identify primary, secondary, and tertiary carbons in any given organic molecule.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Why would the bromination of ethane to ethy1 bromide be a more efficient synthesis than the bromination of hexane to 1-bromohexane?

Give a structure or structure consistent with each of the following sets of nmr data. (a) \(\mathrm{C}_{3} \mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{Cl}_{5}\) (d) \(\quad \mathrm{C}_{10} \mathrm{H}_{14}\) a triplet, \(64.52,1 \mathrm{H}\) a doublet, \(\delta 0.88,6 \mathrm{H}\) b doublet, \(\delta 6.07,2 \mathrm{H}\) b multiplet, \(\delta 1.86,1 \mathrm{H}\) c doublet, \(\delta 2.45,2 \mathrm{H}\) d singlet, \(\delta 7.12,5 \mathrm{H}\) (b) \(\quad \mathrm{C}_{3} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{Cl}_{3} \quad\) (e) \(\mathrm{C}_{10} \mathrm{H}_{13} \mathrm{Cl}\) a singlet, \(\delta 2.20,3 \mathrm{H}\) a singlet, \(61.57,6 \mathrm{H}\) c singlet, \(\delta 7.27,5 \mathrm{H}\) (c) \(\mathrm{C}_{10} \mathrm{H}_{14}\) a singlet, \(\delta 1.30,9 \mathrm{H}\) a singlet, \(\delta 7.28,5 \mathrm{H}\)

\(5.82 \mathrm{~g}\) of a compound was burned in the presence of oxygen. The products were \(17.1 \mathrm{~g}\) of carbon dioxide and \(10.5 \mathrm{~g}\) of water. Calculate the empirical formulas for this compound. What is its name? Find the percent yield of this reaction.

Draw all the isomers of \(\mathrm{C}_{5} \mathrm{H}_{12}\).

Draw perspective formulas and Newman projections for the eclipsed and staggered forms of propane.
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