What is a carbocation?

A carbocation is defined as a positively charged carbon species. This occurs when a carbon atom has only three bonds instead of the typical four, resulting in a net positive charge due to the absence of a full set of electrons. Because of this positive charge, carbocations are highly reactive, often acting as intermediates in various organic reactions, such as alkylation and certain substitution processes.

The structure of a carbocation typically involves a carbon atom that can be bonded to other atoms or groups via single or double bonds, but its positive charge makes it an important point of reactivity in organic chemistry. Understanding the nature of carbocations aids in predicting the behavior of organic compounds during chemical reactions, making this concept fundamental in the study of reaction mechanisms.