Primary Carbon Structural formula of propane (; primary carbons are highlighted red)
In organic chemistry, a primary carbon is a carbon atom of an alkane or alkyl group that is bound to only one other carbon atom. It is thus sp3-hybridized and at the end of a carbon chain. In case of an alkane, three hydrogen atoms are bound to a primary carbon (see propane in the figure on the right). A hydrogen atom could also be replaced by a hydroxy group (), which would make the molecule a primary alcohol.
primary carbon secondary carbon tertiary carbon quaternary carbon General structure (R = Organyl group) Partial Structural formula
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