Primary Carbon
Structural formula of propane (C3H8; primary carbons are highlighted red)

In organic chemistry, a primary carbon is a carbon atom of an alkane or alkyl group that is bound to only one other carbon atom. It is thus sp3-hybridized and at the end of a carbon chain. In case of an alkane, three hydrogen atoms are bound to a primary carbon (see propane in the figure on the right). A hydrogen atom could also be replaced by a hydroxy group (−OH), which would make the molecule a primary alcohol.

primary carbonsecondary carbontertiary carbonquaternary carbon
General structure (R = Organyl group)
Partial Structural formula