In the triphenylmethyl cation, $(C X_{6} H X_{5}) X_{3} C X^{+}$ , the positive charge is shared by the central carbon and by the ortho and para carbons of each ring in the various resonance structures. The total number of carbon atoms that bear the positive charge in some resonance structure is:

Answer: D

The central carbon carries the charge in one structure. Each ring has two ortho carbons and one para carbon that can carry it, i.e. 3 per ring. Total = 1 + 3 x 3 = 10.

Practice General Organic Chemistry I: Electronic Effects More on Applications: stability of carbocations, carbanions, free radicals

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In the triphenylmethyl cation, (CX6​HX5​)X3​CX+, the positive charge is shared by the central carbon and by the ortho and para carbons of each ring in the various resonance structures. The total number of carbon atoms that bear the positive charge in some resonance structure is:

Answer: D

More questions on Applications: stability of carbocations, carbanions, free radicals

In the triphenylmethyl cation, $(C X_{6} H X_{5}) X_{3} C X^{+}$ , the positive charge is shared by the central carbon and by the ortho and para carbons of each ring in the various resonance structures. The total number of carbon atoms that bear the positive charge in some resonance structure is: