Question detail
What is the structure of a carbocation?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Alkenes
Question
- A. A positively charged carbon atom with three bonds
- B. A negatively charged carbon atom with four bonds
- C. A carbon atom with a double bond and no charge
- D. A carbon atom with a single bond and two lone pairs
Answer
A positively charged carbon atom with three bonds
Explanation
A carbocation is formed when a carbon atom has only three bonds and carries a positive charge due to the absence of one bonding electron, making it electron-deficient and reactive.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Carbocation Stability
Students often confuse the stability of carbocations, thinking that all carbocations are equally stable regardless of their structure.
To explain carbocation stability, remember that tertiary carbocations are more stable than secondary, which are more stable than primary. This is due to the inductive effect and hyperconjugation from surrounding alkyl groups. For example, a tertiary carbocation (R3C+) is stabilized by three alkyl groups donating electron density, while a primary carbocation (RCH2+) is only stabilized by one. Thus, when predicting the major product of an electrophilic addition reaction, consider the stability of the carbocation formed during the reaction.
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