A secondary carbon is a carbon atom

bound Bound or bounds may refer to: Mathematics * Bound variable * Upper and lower bounds, observed limits of mathematical functions Physics * Bound state, a particle that has a tendency to remain localized in one or more regions of space Geography *B ...

to two other carbon atoms. For this reason, secondary carbon atoms are found in all

hydrocarbon In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons are examples of group 14 hydrides. Hydrocarbons are generally colourless and hydrophobic, and their odors are usually weak or ...

s having at least three carbon atoms. In unbranched alkanes, the inner carbon atoms are always secondary carbon atoms (see figure). {, class="wikitable centered" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; margin-bottom: 10px;" , - , , style="background-color:#7A91FF" , ''primary'' carbon , style="background-color:#AAC1FF" , ''secondary'' carbon , style="background-color:#7A91FF" , ''tertiary'' carbon , style="background-color:#7A91FF" , ''quaternary'' carbon , - , align="center" style="background-color:#CAE1FF; height:80px; width:20%" , General structure
(R =

Organyl group In organic and organometallic chemistry, an organyl group is an organic substituent with one (sometimes more) free valence(-s) at a carbon atom.. The term is often used in chemical patent literature to protect claims over a broad scope. Exam ...

) , style="background-color:#BFBFBF" , Primäres_Kohlenstoffatom_V1

, style="background-color:#FFFFFF" , Sekundäres_Kohlenstoffatom_V1

, style="background-color:#BFBFBF" , Tertiäres_Kohlenstoffatom_V1

, style="background-color:#BFBFBF" , Quartäres_Kohlenstoffatom_V1

, - , align="center" style="background-color:#CAE1FF; height:80px; width:20%" , Partial
Structural formula , style="background-color:#BFBFBF" , Primäres_Kohlenstoffatom_V2

, style="background-color:#FFFFFF" , Sekundäres_Kohlenstoffatom_V2

, style="background-color:#BFBFBF" , Tertiäres_Kohlenstoffatom_V2

, style="background-color:#BFBFBF" , Quartäres_Kohlenstoffatom_V2

References

Chemical nomenclature Organic chemistry