Tertiary is a term used in organic chemistry to classify various types of compounds (e. g. alcohols, alkyl halides, amines) or reactive intermediates (e. g. alkyl radicals, carbocations).
| Red highlighted central atoms in various groups of chemical compounds. Tertiary central atoms compared with primary, secondary and quaternary central atoms. | ||||
| primary | secondary | tertiary | quaternary | |
| Carbon atom in an alkane | &sq=&lang=&file=File:Prim._Hydrocarbon_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Sec._Hydrocarbon_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Tert._Hydrocarbon_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Quart._Hydrocarbon_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
| Alcohol | &sq=&lang=&file=File:Prim._Alcohol_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Sec._Alcohol_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Tert._Alcohol_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
does not exist |
| Amine | &sq=&lang=&file=File:Prim._Amine_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Sec._Amine_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Tert._Amine_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Quarternary_ammonium_cation_Structural_Formula_V.1.png)
|
| Amide | &sq=&lang=&file=File:Prim._Amide_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Sec._Amide_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Tert._Amide_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
does not exist |
| Phosphine | &sq=&lang=&file=File:Prim._Phosphine_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Sec._Phosphine_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Tert._Phosphine_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Quart._Phosphonium_Cation_Structural_Formulae_V.1.png)
|