The intermediate formed in the electrophilic addition of HBr to propene is a

Options

A. Carbocation
B. Carbanion
C. Carbene
D. Free radical

Answer

To solve the question regarding the intermediate formed in the electrophilic addition of HBr to propene, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the Reactants
The reactants in this reaction are propene (C3H6) and hydrogen bromide (HBr).

### Step 2: Understand Electrophilic Addition
In electrophilic addition reactions, alkenes react with electrophiles. In this case, HBr acts as the electrophile. The double bond in propene is nucleophilic and will attack the electrophile.

### Step 3: Protonation of Propene
When HBr is added to propene, the alkene double bond (C=C) attacks the hydrogen (H+) from HBr. This results in the formation of a carbocation intermediate.

### Step 4: Formation of Carbocation
The protonation of propene leads to the formation of a carbocation. Since propene has two carbon atoms (C1 and C2) involved in the double bond, the positive charge can be formed on either carbon. However, the more stable carbocation forms on the secondary carbon (C2) due to hyperconjugation and inductive effects.

### Step 5: Attack by Bromide Ion
Once the carbocation is formed, the bromide ion (Br-) from HBr will attack the positively charged carbon (C2) to form the final product.

### Step 6: Final Product Formation
The final product of this reaction is 2-bromopropane, which is formed when Br- attacks the carbocation.

### Conclusion
The intermediate formed during the electrophilic addition of HBr to propene is a **carbocation**.