Question

What is carbocation? Why is tertiary carbocation more stable than primaty carbocation?

Answer 1

First, it is true that tertiary carbocations are generally more stable than primary carbocations (and secondary carbocations) due to having more inductively donating alkyl groups. The hyperconjugative effect can also be invoked to explain the relative stabilities of primary, secondary, and tertiary carbocations.


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. ... Of course, the more the positive charge is spread out, the more stable your carbocation will be!