What are carbocations and carbanions?

Let's start by defining these two terms. A carbocation is a positive ion composed of a carbon atom with three single bonds and a positive charge. On the other hand, a carbanion is a negative ion composed of a carbon atom with a negative charge and a double bond with another atom, usually hydrogen.

Differences between carbocations and carbanions

Training

The main difference between these two ions is the way in which they are formed. Carbocations are formed when a covalent bond It breaks and one of the atoms, in this case carbon, remains with a positive charge. On the other hand, carbanions are formed when an atom, in this case carbon, gains an electron to form a covalent bond with another atom.

electrical charge

Another difference is the electrical charge of each one. Carbocations always have a positive charge, while carbanions always have a negative charge. This difference in electrical charge has an impact on the chemical properties of each ion.

Stability

Stability is also an important difference. Carbocations are less stable than carbanions because they have a positive charge which makes them more reactive. On the contrary, carbanions are more stable because their negative charge is capable of being stabilized thanks to the presence of additional valence electrons.

Reactivity

Lastly, reactivity is a key difference. Carbocations are very reactive due to their positive charge and have a great tendency to react with other molecules to neutralize their charge. On the other hand, carbanions are less reactive due to their negative charge, which prevents them from bonding easily with other molecules.

Conclusion

In summary, the main difference between carbocations and carbanions lies in their electrical charge and how they are formed. As a result, both ions have different chemical properties in terms of their reactivity and stability.

References

• Chem Libretexts. (2021). Carbocations. Recovered from https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Organic_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(Organic_Chemistry)/Organic_Chemistry_With_a_Biological_Emphasis_(Soderberg)/Chapter_02%3A_Structure_and_Reactivity%3A_A_Foundation_for_Organic_Chemistry/2.02_Carbocations
• Tutorialspoint. (sf). Carbocations and Carbanions. Recovered from https://www.tutorialspoint.com/carbocations-and-carbanions

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