A carbocation is an organic ion in which a carbon atom carries a positive charge. It is an important intermediate in many organic reactions.
Key Features of Carbocations
- Positively Charged Carbon: The carbon atom has only six electrons in its valence shell, making it electron-deficient and highly reactive.
- Unstable: Carbocations are usually unstable and exist only temporarily during chemical reactions.
- Hybridization: The positively charged carbon is sp² hybridized with a trigonal planar shape.
- Types Based on Substitution:
- Primary (1°): Carbon with the positive charge is attached to one other carbon.
- Secondary (2°): Carbon is attached to two other carbons.
- Tertiary (3°): Carbon is attached to three other carbons (most stable).
Examples
- Formed during halogenation or dehydration reactions of alcohols
- Intermediate in rearrangement reactions like the Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement
Applications / Importance
- Crucial in mechanisms of many organic reactions such as substitution, elimination, and rearrangement reactions
- Helps predict the stability and product formation in organic chemistry
In short: A carbocation is a positively charged carbon species, highly reactive, and plays a central role as an intermediate in many organic reactions.