Concept:Carbocation stability is governed by the electron-donating ability of alkyl groups through the
+I effect and hyperconjugation.
Explanation:A carbocation has a positively charged carbon with only six electrons, making it electron-deficient.
Alkyl groups donate electron density to this carbon, which stabilises the positive charge.
Therefore, the stability order is:
3∘>2∘>1∘> methyl.
Now classify the given options:
CH3+ is a methyl carbocation.
CH3−CH2+ is a primary carbocation.
(CH3)2CH+ is a secondary carbocation.
(CH3)3C+ is a tertiary carbocation.
A tertiary carbocation has three alkyl groups attached to the positively charged carbon, giving maximum stabilisation.
Hence,
(CH3)3C+ is the most stable carbocation.
Answer:The most stable carbocation is
(CH3)3C+, which corresponds to Option D.