The isobutyl carbocation, (CH₃)₂CH- + C H₂ , undergoes a spontaneous 1,2-hydride shift to form a more stable carbocation. What is the number of -hydrogens present in the initial carbocation and in the newly formed rearranged carbocation, respectively?

Step-by-step solution

The number of -hydrogens is determined by counting the hydrogen atoms attached to the sp^3 hybridized carbon atoms directly adjacent to the positively charged carbon. In the initial isobutyl carbocation, (CH₃)₂CH- + C H₂ , the positively charged carbon is attached to only one adjacent carbon (the CH group). This adjacent carbon has exactly 1 hydrogen atom. Thus, there is 1 -hydrogen. The initial primary carbocation undergoes a 1,2-hydride shift, moving the hydrogen from the adjacent tertiary carbon to the primary c