Question

Which is more stable carbonium ion

Sec pentyl carbonation

Ter.pentylcarbocation

Isopentycarbocation

Neopentylcarbocation

Pls explain ans is terpentyl carbocation

Answer 1

Dear student,


Tertiary carbocations are more stable than primary or secondary carbocations because they have three methyl groups to distribute it's positive charge rather than only one or two methyl groups. Each methyl group has three hydrogens to help spread out the positive charge, which is more effective than just having a hydrogen in its place. Of course, the more the positive charge is spread out, the more stable your carbocation will be! Also, since hydrogen is less electronegative than carbon, the methyl groups will have 3 permanent dipoles from its three hydrogens that cause a stronger dipole to point towards the centre carbon than simply one hydrogen in its place.


in general, more substituted carbocations are more stable: a tert-pentyl carbocation, for example, is more stable than an isopentyl carbocation. Primary carbocations are highly unstable and not often observed as reaction intermediates; methyl carbocations are even less stable.

hope it helps