Question

What are primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols?

Answer 1

The number of carbons linked to the carbon-containing hydroxide determines whether alcohol is classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary.

Primary alcohol

• The carbon atom attached to the hydroxyl group $\left(\mathrm{OH}\right)$ is connected to only one alkyl group in primary alcohols.
• Examples of primary alcohol are given below:-

Secondary alcohol

• Secondary alcohols are those in which the carbon atom attached to the hydroxyl group$\left(\mathrm{OH}\right)$ is connected to two alkyl groups on either side.
• An example of secondary alcohol is given below:-

Tertiary alcohol

• Tertiary alcohols are those in which the carbon atom attached to the hydroxyl group$\left(\mathrm{OH}\right)$ is linked to three alkyl groups on either side.
• An example of tertiary alcohol is given below:-