Carbocation is defined as

• A. A negatively charged carbon atom
• B. A species containing a positively charged carbon
• C. A neutral carbon with no charge
• D. A carbon radical

Answer: (B)

A carbocation is a positively charged carbon atom. This means carbon has fewer electrons than protons in its formal counting, giving it a positive charge and an electron deficiency. Such species are typically planar (often sp2 hybridized) with an empty p orbital, which makes them highly reactive and excellent electrophiles in many reactions. The positive charge is what distinguishes carbocations from other carbon-bearing species: a negatively charged carbon is a carbanion, a neutral carbon with no charge is simply a neutral carbon species, and a carbon radical has an unpaired electron but is overall neutral.