Question

How many primary,secondary and tertiary hydrogen atoms are present in isobutane?

Answer 1

Carbons have a special terminology to describe how many other carbons they are attached to. Hydrogen atoms are also classified in this manner. A hydrogen atom attached to a primary, secondary and tertiary carbon atom is called a primary, secondary and tertiary hydrogen respectively.

Hence, isobutane, has nine primary hydrogens and one tertiary hydrogen.

Structure of isobutane-

$\underset{\left(\text{Isobutane}\right)}{C{H}_3-\stackrel{\underset{|}{C{H}_3}}{\underset{\stackrel{|}{C{H}_3}}{C}}-H}$