Alkyl halides are classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary based on the nature of the carbon atom to which the halogen is attached. The terms used for these classifications are 1° alkyl halide (primary), 2° alkyl halide (secondary), and 3° alkyl halide (tertiary).
How are alkyl halides classified based on the nature of the carbon atom to which the halogen is attached, and what are the terms used for primary, secondary, and tertiary alkyl halides?
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Alkyl halides are classified based on the nature of the carbon atom to which the halogen is attached. If the halogen is bonded to a carbon atom that is directly attached to only one other carbon, it is termed a primary alkyl halide. If the halogen is attached to a carbon atom, which is connected to two other carbon atoms, it is a secondary alkyl halide. When the halogen is linked to a carbon atom bound to three other carbons, it is classified as a tertiary alkyl halide. These terms, primary, secondary, and tertiary, denote the degree of substitution of the carbon atom bearing the halogen.