Answer to Question #86623 in Organic Chemistry for akash korde

Question

explain why a tertiary carbocation is more stable than secondary carbocation which in turn is more stable than a primary carbocation

Answer 1

The more a charge is dispersed, the more stable is a carbocation.

In a tertiary carbocation, the positively charged carbon atom attracts the bonding electrons in the three carbon-carbon bonds, and thus creates slight positive charges on the carbon atoms of the three surrounding alkyl groups. In secondary carbocation, the positively changed carbon atom attracts the bonding electrons in the two carbon-carbon bonds, and thus creates sight posotive charge on the carbon atoms of the two surrounding alkyl groups, what makes secondary carbocation less stable that the tertary carbocation. In primary carbocation positive charge is dispersed on one alkyl group, what makes primary carbocation less satble than secondary carbocation.