Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Alcohols: Classification, Examples, & Practice

In this video we'll learn and how to classify alcohols as primary, secondary, or tertiary. We'll also look at examples and practice problems. For more help and practice visit https://www.Breslyn.org !

Because they have different structures 1◦, 1◦, and 1◦ alcohols will have differing properties, such as boiling point.

Primary (1◦): One Carbon directly attached to OH group.
Secondary (2◦): Two Carbons directly attached to OH group.
Tertiary (3◦): Three Carbons directly attached to OH group.

Important exception: Methanol, CH3OH, only has one Carbon atom. However, it is counted as a primary alcohol even though there are no Carbon atoms attached to the the -OH Carbon atom.

More explanation about primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols:
https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelv...