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NEET levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 1 of 3o3002

Which carbocation is the most stable?

  1. A
  2. B
  3. C
  4. D

Answer: A

Stability of alkyl carbocations rises with the number of alkyl groups on the cationic carbon (inductive effect and hyperconjugation). The tertiary cation has nine hyperconjugating C-H bonds, so the order is tertiary > secondary > primary > methyl, and is the most stable.
Practice Organic Reaction Mechanisms III: Nucleophilic Substitution More on SN1 vs SN2: substrate, nucleophile, solvent, leaving group

More questions on SN1 vs SN2: substrate, nucleophile, solvent, leaving group