What characterizes a carbocation?

A carbocation is a positively charged intermediate species in organic chemistry that contains a carbon atom with only six electrons in its valence shell, resulting in a positive charge. It is characterized by its trigonal planar geometry and sp² hybridization, leading to a planar structure around the positively charged carbon. Carbocations are highly reactive due to their electron deficiency and can undergo various reactions, such as nucleophilic attack or rearrangement, to stabilize themselves. Their stability varies with the degree of substitution, with tertiary carbocations being more stable than secondary and primary ones.