1.(a)explain what do you understand by inductive effect and types of inductive effect? (b) explain the relative stabilities of primary, secondary and tertiary carbonations?
1 Answer
Inductive effects involve electron movements.
Explanation:
There is a positive and a negative inductive effect.
Certain atoms or groups of atoms can exert one of these effects.
The electronegative atoms exert a negative inductive effect and withdraw electrons from atoms [in organic chemistry this is most often carbon atoms]. Thus on a carbocation, withdrawing electrons makes the positive charge stronger and more susceptible to attack by a nucleophile.
Alkyl groups exert a positive inductive effect and push electrons towards the positive carbon in the carbocation.
The more alkyl groups there are the bigger the effect. Consequently the three alkyl groups in a tertiary carbocation will exert a greater effect. This partially offsets the positive charge making the carbocation more stable.
