Classification is an important tool used by organic chemists to help them get the “big picture“ and apply known results to predicting the outcome of reaction of a new compound with the same functional group.
The mode of preparation and/or reactivity of a haloalkane may depend on the degree of substitution (number of carbons) at the carbon bearing halogen. Thus it is useful to classify haloalkanes as shown.
The mode of preparation and/or reactivity of a haloalkane may depend on the degree of substitution (number of carbons) at the carbon bearing halogen. Thus it is useful to classify haloalkanes as shown.
| primary | one carbon at C bearing halogen | CH3CH2Br |
| secondary | two carbons at C bearing halogen |  |
| tertiary | three carbons at C bearing halogen |  |