Carbocations are positively charged species with a carbon atom bearing only six electrons. Carbocation stability is influenced primarily by two factors:
Inductive Effect: Alkyl groups are electron-donating groups due to the inductive effect (release of electrons through sigma bonds). The more alkyl groups attached to the carbocation carbon, the more the positive charge is dispersed, and the more stable the carbocation becomes.
Hyperconjugation: This is the stabilizing interaction that results from the interaction of the electrons in a sigma bond (usually C-H or C-C) with an adjacent empty (or partially filled) p-orbital. The more alkyl groups attached to the carbocation carbon, the more hyperconjugation possible, increasing stability.
Order of Carbocation Stability:
Tertiary (3°) > Secondary (2°) > Primary (1°) > Methyl
Methyl: The carbocation carbon is attached to no other carbon atoms.
Analyzing the Given Carbocations:
Therefore, the most stable carbocation is (D) (CH3)3C+ (the tertiary carbocation).
1. Factors affecting carbocation stability:
2. Analyze each carbocation:
3. Compare stability:
4. Identify the most stable carbocation:
5. Final answer:
The correct option is (D).
Organic Chemistry is a subset of chemistry dealing with compounds of carbon. Therefore, we can say that Organic chemistry is the chemistry of carbon compounds and is 200-225 years old. Carbon forms bond with itself to form long chains of hydrocarbons, e.g.CH4, methane and CH3-CH3 ethane. Carbon has the ability to form carbon-carbon bonds quite elaborately. Polymers like polyethylene is a linear chain where hundreds of CH2 are linked together.
Read Also: Organic Compounds
Organic chemistry is applicable in a variety of areas including-