What is the difference between a tertiary, secondary and primary halide?

[alasra]

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I'm watching Chad's Orgo videos, and he says that tertiary and secondary halides are most often seen in SN1 reactions, where as methyl groups, primary halides, and secondary halides are seen in SN2 reactions. What does this mean?

 

[stewfoo412]

It's referring to the degree of the carbon that it is attached to. AKA how many carbons the carbon next to the halogen is attached to. For example: CH3CH2Br is a primary halide, while (CH3)3CBr is a tertiary halide. The former will react under SN2 while the latter will react under SN1.
Hope that helps

 

[alasra]

It's referring to the degree of the carbon that it is attached to. AKA how many carbons the carbon next to the halogen is attached to. For example: CH3CH2Br is a primary halide, while (CH3)3CBr is a tertiary halide. The former will react under SN2 while the latter will react under SN1.
Hope that helps

Thanks! That makes a lot of sense!