A carbocation is an ion with a positively charged carbon atom. It is a molecule in which a carbon atom has a positive charge and three bonds, making it a carbon cation. Carbocations are classified into two main categories based on the coordination number of the charged carbon: three in carbenium ions and five in carbonium ions. They are highly reactive and unstable due to an incomplete octet, and are commonly observed in SN1 reactions and elimination reactions. Carbocations can be formed by cleavage of a bond of carbon or through electrophilic addition. They are important reactive intermediates in many organic reactions