What is a carbocation?
Q: What is a carbocation?
A: A carbocation is an ion with a positively-charged carbon atom.
Q: What is the outer valence shell of a carbocation?
A: The outer valence shell of a carbocation has only six electrons instead of the stable eight valence electrons.
Q: Why are carbocations often reactive?
A: Carbocations are often reactive because they seek to fill the octet of valence electrons as well as regain a neutral charge.
Q: What is the maximum stability for carbon atoms?
A: The maximum stability for carbon atoms is achieved when they have eight valence electrons.
Q: What is a sextet in chemistry?
A: A sextet is a term used to describe a carbon atom in a carbocation that has only six electrons in its outer valence shell instead of the stable eight valence electrons.
Q: What is the hybridization and molecular geometry of a carbocation?
A: Although logic would suggest that carbocations have sp3 hybridization with an empty sp3 orbital giving a positive charge, their reactivity more closely resembles sp2 hybridization with a trigonal planar molecular geometry.
Q: What is the octet rule?
A: The octet rule is a principle in chemistry which states that atoms tend to form chemical bonds with other atoms that allow both atoms to have a stable set of eight valence electrons.
