During the slow, rate-determining step of a nucleophilic addition reaction, the carbonyl carbon tran — Aldehydes Ketones and Carboxylic Acids Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

In the transition from the planar carbonyl compound to the tetrahedral alkoxide intermediate, the carbon atom's hybridization shifts from $sp^2$ (one double bond, two single bonds) to $sp^3$ (four single bonds). Thus, the index $x$ is 3.