Final answer:
Protonation can occur with two regiochemical possibilities due to the electrophilic addition to unsymmetrical alkenes, leading to the formation of major and minor products based on the stability of carbocation intermediates.
Step-by-step explanation:
In theory, protonation can occur with two regiochemical possibilities. These two possibilities arise because in the case of unsymmetrical alkenes, the formation of two constitutional isomers is possible through the process of electrophilic addition reactions.
The stability of carbocations plays a crucial role. In the most favorable path, the more stable carbocation will form, which is often based on the degree of alkyl substitution surrounding the positively charged carbon. This leads to the Markovnikov rule, where in the addition of a protic acid to an alkene, the proton is more likely to attach to the carbon with more hydrogen atoms, resulting in the more substituted carbocation.