Primary (chemistry)
Primary is a term used in organic chemistry to classify various types of compounds (e.g. alcohols, alkyl halides, amines) or reactive intermediates (e.g. alkyl radicals, carbocations).
| Red highlighted central atoms in various groups of chemical compounds. Primary central atoms compared with secondary, tertiary and quaternary central atoms. | ||||
| primary | secondary | tertiary | quaternary | |
| Carbon atom in an alkane |  |  |  |  |
| Alcohol |  |  |  | does not exist |
| Amine |  |  |  |  |
| Amide |  |  |  | does not exist |
| Phosphine |  |  |  |  |