Question

Which is the most unstable carbocation?

Answer 1

The most unstable carbocation is the one with the least stable electronic configuration and the fewest stabilizing factors. The stability of carbocations is influenced by various factors, including electron-donating groups, neighboring alkyl groups, resonance effects, and hyperconjugation.
In general, primary (1°) carbocations are less stable than secondary (2°) carbocations, which, in turn, are less stable than tertiary (3°) carbocations. This trend arises due to the increased electron-releasing inductive effect and hyperconjugation from adjacent alkyl groups in secondary and tertiary carbocations, providing more stability.
Therefore, among the common carbocations, the most unstable carbocation is the primary (1°) carbocation