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Chemistry LibreTexts

Carbocation

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A carbocation is a species containing a carbon atom that lacks an octet of valence electrons and bears a formal charge of +1.

eg:

carbocation2.png

Some carbocations are resonance stabilized, in which case some or all resonance forms of the species fit the above definition.

eg:

carbocation1.png

see also alkyl carbocation, allylic carbocation, benzylic carbocation, acylium ion, alkenyl carbocation, aryl carbocation


This page titled Carbocation is shared under a All Rights Reserved (used with permission) license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gamini Gunawardena via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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