There are a large variety of haloalkanes. It is useful to classify these as primary, secondary or tertiary according to the number of substitutents (groups other than H) at the carbon bearing halogen.
Examples of these are given below.
These classifications are very useful because haloalkanes having the same classification react in a similar way. Similar classifications are used for alcohols.
Examples of these are given below.
| classification | number of carbons at C bearing halogen | example |
| primary | one | CH3CH2Br |
| secondary | two |  |
| tertiary | three |  |
These classifications are very useful because haloalkanes having the same classification react in a similar way. Similar classifications are used for alcohols.