In: Other
Rank methyl, primary, secondary and tertiary radicals, carbons and -carb cations, after increasing stability. Give examples.
The radicals and carbocations are electron deficient species. So; their stability increases with the number of electron donating groups attached to it. As the -CH3 group is electron donating; higher the number of it stabler will be the radical and carbocation.
On the other hand; carbanions are electron rich species. So; their stability decreases with the number of electron donating groups attached to it. As the -CH3 group is electron donating; lower the number of it stabler will be the carbanion.
Therefore the order of stability is:
Radicals : Tertiary > Secondary > Primary > Methyl
Carbocations : Tertiary > Secondary > Primary > Methyl
Carbanions : Methyl > Primary > Secondary > Tertiary
Examples:
Radicals : Tert-butyl > Iso-propyl > Ethyl > Methyl
Carbocations : Tert-butyl > Iso-propyl > Ethyl > Methyl
Carbanions : Methyl > Ethyl > Iso-propyl > Tert-butyl