What is the Difference Between Carbocation and Carbanion?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Carbocation and carbanion are two types of charged species derived from organic molecules, and they play crucial roles in organic chemistry. The main differences between them are:
- Charge: Carbocation is a positively charged carbon atom with an electron deficiency, while carbanion is a negatively charged carbon atom with an extra pair of electrons.
- Electron Density: Carbocations are electron-deficient and act as electrophiles, meaning they are highly reactive towards nucleophiles. Carbanions, on the other hand, are electron-rich and act as nucleophiles, participating in various organic reactions.
- Hybridization: The hybridization of carbocation is sp² (trigonal planar), while the hybridization of carbanion is sp³ (pyramidal).
- Stability: Carbocations can be stabilized by alkyl groups, whereas carbanions can be stabilized by electron-withdrawing groups. Carbocations are generally less stable than carbanions due to their positive charge, making them highly reactive and unstable.
- Role in Reactions: Carbocations are involved in electrophilic reactions, while carbanions are involved in nucleophilic reactions.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Carbocation and Carbanion? Comparative Table: Carbocation vs Carbanion
Comparative Table: Carbocation vs Carbanion
Carbocation and carbanion are two types of charged species derived from organic molecules. Here is a table highlighting the differences between them:
Property | Carbocation | Carbanion |
---|---|---|
Charge | Positive | Negative |
Electron Deficiency | Electron-deficient | Electron-rich |
Geometry | Planar | Tetrahedral |
Hybridization | sp² | sp³/sp² |
Reactivity | Electrophile (attracts electrons) | Nucleophile (donates electrons) |
Stability | Stabilized by alkyl groups | Can be stabilized by electron-withdrawing groups |
Carbocation is a positively charged carbon atom that has lost an electron, resulting in an electron-deficient species. It possesses an empty p-orbital on the carbon, making it an electrophile and highly reactive towards nucleophiles. On the other hand, a carbanion is a negatively charged carbon atom with an extra pair of electrons. It acts as a nucleophile and participates in various organic reactions.
Read more:
- Carbene vs Carbanion
- Carbonium Ion vs Carbanion
- Carbonyl vs Carboxyl
- Carbonyl vs Ketone
- Classical vs Nonclassical Carbocation
- Anion vs Cation
- Carbonic Acid vs Carbolic Acid
- Hydrocarbons vs Carbohydrates
- Organometallic Compounds vs Metal Carbonyls
- Carbonic Acid vs Bicarbonate
- Carbonate vs Bicarbonate
- Carotene vs Carotenoid
- Hydronium Ion vs Hydrogen Ion
- Hydrazine vs Carbohydrazide
- Singlet vs Triplet Carbene
- Polyatomic Ions vs Compounds
- Carboxylic Acid vs Alcohol
- Carbocyclic vs Heterocyclic
- Protonation vs Ionization