In the acid-catalyzed hydration of 1-methylcyclohexene, the reaction intermediate is a carbocation, specifically a tertiary carbocation. The mechanism for this reaction can be described in the following steps:1. Protonation of the alkene: The reaction begins with the protonation of the double bond in 1-methylcyclohexene by a strong acid, such as sulfuric acid H2SO4 or hydrochloric acid HCl . This results in the formation of a more stable tertiary carbocation intermediate, as the positive charge is located on the more substituted carbon.1-methylcyclohexene + H [1-methylcyclohexyl]+2. Nucleophilic attack by water: The carbocation intermediate formed in the first step is then attacked by a water molecule, which acts as a nucleophile. The oxygen atom in the water molecule donates a pair of electrons to form a bond with the positively charged carbon, resulting in the formation of an oxonium ion.[1-methylcyclohexyl]+ + H2O [1-methylcyclohexyl-OH2]+3. Deprotonation: In the final step, the oxonium ion loses a proton to another water molecule or a conjugate base from the acid used in the first step such as HSO4 or Cl . This results in the formation of the tertiary alcohol product, 1-methylcyclohexanol, and regenerates the acid catalyst.[1-methylcyclohexyl-OH2]+ + H2O 1-methylcyclohexanol + H3OOverall, the acid-catalyzed hydration of 1-methylcyclohexene proceeds through a tertiary carbocation intermediate, with the final product being 1-methylcyclohexanol.