What is the difference between carbocation and free radical?

Free radicals are molecules that have an unpaired (lone) electron. Electrophiles have empty orbitals that are can attract electron pairs thereby forming chemical bonds. Carbocations contain a carbon atom that has 3 bonds plus a positive charge. They tend to be unstable and therefore react readily.

Which is more stable free radical or carbocation?

Carbocations are also electron-deficient species. Since carbocations have only 6 valence electrons, they are higher in energy than free radicals. We know this, because many carbocations rearrange to become more stable. The same factors that stabilize carbocations stabilize free radicals.

Are radicals or carbocations more stable?

It is one of the most important factors in the stability of carbon-based radicals. Radicals on carbon atoms are also stabilized when they are in more substituted positions. just as carbocations are more stable if they are on more substituted positions, carbon radicals are also more stable in these positions.

Why do alkyl groups Stabilise a carbocation?

Alkyl groups are electron donating and carbocation-stabilizing because the electrons around the neighboring carbons are drawn towards the nearby positive charge, thus slightly reducing the electron poverty of the positively-charged carbon.

What is the difference between a carbocation and a carbon radical?

A carbon radical has seven electrons in the valence shell in contrast to six electrons for carbocations.

What is radical stability?

Radical stability refers to the energy level of the radical. If the internal energy of the radical is high, the radical is unstable. It will try to reach a lower energy level. If the internal energy of the radical is low, the radical is stable.

Which alkyl free radical is more stable?

Therefore, the most stable free radical is benzyl free radical. Hence the correct option is (B).

Which alkyl free radical is most stable?

Specifically, tertiary radical is most stable and the primary and methyl radicals are least stable, that follow the same trend as the stability of carbocations.

What is the difference between Electrophile and Nucleophile?

Electrophiles are those reactants that are either positively charged or neutral with no lone pair of electrons. A nucleophile is that chemical species that has negative charge or that has lone pairs of electrons. Lone pair of electrons is those electrons that do not get used in the bond.

What is free radical stability?

Radical stability refers to the energy level of the radical. If the internal energy of the radical is high, the radical is unstable. Free radicals have only 7 electrons in their valence shell. They are higher in energy than atoms with 8 valence electrons.

What are free radicals which is the most stable free radical and why?

Allyl radical is in turn less stable than benzyl free radical. Therefore, the most stable free radical is benzyl free radical. Hence the correct option is (B).

What is the difference in stability between carbocations and free radicals?

The difference in stability between carbocations is much larger than between free radicals. The tert butyl radical is only 12 Kcal more stable than methyl free radical and hence depend upon the substrate with 66 – 72 Kcal more stable than the methyl cation.

How does the number of alkyl substituents affect the stability of carbocations?

Increasingthe number of alkyl substituents increasesthe stability of the carbocation. This is due to orbital overlap between the σbond and the empty p orbital on the sp2 carbon. b) Inductive Effects Neighbouring alkyl groups contain electrons that are polarizable, and these can shift towards the positive charge.

What is the hierarchy of radical intermediate stability?

Therefore here is the hierarchy of radical intermediate stability: Carbocations serve as electrophiles in reactions. They will attract electrons easily as the carbon is deficient in electrons. Carbocations prefer a greater degree of alkyl substitution.

Why is an allyl cation more stable than an alkyl cation?

As the allyl cation has only one substituent on the carbon bearing the positive charge it is primarily allylic carbocation. Allylic carbocation is considered to be more stable than substituted alkyl carbocations because delocalization is associated with the resonance interaction between the positively charged carbon and the adjacent pie (π) bond.