Which of the following carbocations is the most stable?

A $C X_{6} H X_{5} CH X_{2} X^{+}$
B $(C X_{6} H X_{5}) X_{2} CH X^{+}$
C $CH X_{3} X^{+}$
D $(C X_{6} H X_{5}) X_{3} C X^{+}$

Answer: D

The charge in the triphenylmethyl cation is delocalised over three benzene rings (ten carbon atoms in all). More aryl groups mean more resonance, so it is the most stable.

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