Stability Of Carbocations And The Positive Inductive Effect

Question 1

What is a carbocation imediate?

Answer 1

Ions which have a positive charge on a carbon atom + only exist for a very short time before reacting further

Question 2

What are all the carbocation types?

Answer 2

Primary - one branch/alkyl group
Secondary - two branches/alkyl group
Tertiary - three branches/alkyl group

Question 3

Define the positive inductive effect

Answer 3

A positive inductive effect is the ability to release electron density through a covalent bond

Question 4

What does the positive inductive effect cause?

Answer 4

The more alkyl groups that are attached to the positively charged carbon, the more stable the carbocation is

Question 5

How does a carbocation become more stable?

Answer 5

The more alkyl groups that are attached to the positively charged carbon, the more stable the carbocation becomes. This is due to the positive inductive effect.