Question

The lower stability of ethyl anion compared to methyl anion and the higher stability of ethyl radical compared to methyl radical, respectively, are due to

• A. $+I$ -effect of the methyl group in ethyl anion
  $\sigma \to p$-orbital conjugation in ethyl radical
• B. $-I$- effect of the methyl group in ethyl anion and
  $\sigma \to {\sigma }^{\ast }$ conjugation in ethyl radical
• C. $+I$ effect of the methyl group in both cases
• D. $+I$- effect of the methyl group in ethyl anion and
  $\sigma \to {\sigma }^{\ast }$ conjugation in ethyl radical

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

The lower stability of ethyl anion $(C{H}_{3}C{H}_2)$ compared to methyl anion $(C{H}_3^{-}$) is because of $+I$-effect of methyl group of ethyl anion. The higher stability of ethyl radical compared to methyl radical is due to $\sigma -p$-orbital conjugation which is known as hyper conjugation in ethyl radical.